Who

The Residential Program houses individuals and families affected by HIV. Clients eligible for this program report zero income or up to 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Most are experiencing unstable housing or a threat of homelessness. Clients with income pay 30% or less of their income towards their rent. Residents are encouraged to participate in self-development and employment programs to build skills for a job search and a more self-directed life. We house one-person households up to families with multiple children. Ages of those living in the apartments range from infants to elderly.

What

With seven buildings and 103 apartments located in the City of St. Louis, this permanent housing program is able to offer secure housing and extensive supportive services to clients at the intersection of poverty, unstable housing, and chronic illness. Two adjoining apartments with a shared courtyard are utilized as the Family Residential Complex, offering three and four bedroom units, while other buildings are one and two bedroom units. A permanent housing program, residents may remain housed without time limit while meeting conditions of their lease. Intensive intake assessments identify immediate needs and threats to housing stability.  For example, many have never experienced long-term housing accommodations. A legacy of poverty has created gaps in education, experiences, employment, and so forth.

Access barriers and navigational hurdles have limited healthcare services, leading to worsening conditions related to HIV and other chronic illnesses associated with poverty. Care coordinators establish pathways to food assistance, benefit programs, resources, healthcare, and medication services. Consistent medication management, improved nutrition, and self-care can improve vitality, increase hope, and energize self-improvement efforts. Extensive self-development programs offer knowledge about managing a household, budgeting limited income, nutritious cooking, stress reduction, and other topics requested by clients. Those able to work are linked to our employment program with encouragement for gaining an education and job training to expand qualifications. Tutoring and summer camps help enrich learning among the children calling our apartments home.

Success

A first step in stabilization is to establish the behaviors that will lead to and sustain viral suppression/undetectable status to improve health outcomes. Advancing independence through a more self-directed life is a second goal for those in permanent housing.

Individual and family success stories include clients who earn college degrees or complete trade school, clients whose children graduate from high school, clients who are able to manage their healthcare and sustain undetectable status. Each story is individual and unique, capturing achievements that would not have been possible without the housing and supportive services provided by DOORWAYS.

If you are seeking assistance, please click here to go to the CLIENT PROCESS page or call the program office at 314-328-2719 during office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

103

apartment units in 7 buildings located in the City of St. Louis

can house 300+ residents in one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom family units.