DOORWAYS Interfaith AIDS Housing Services

I have been aware of Doorways for 26 years. From the beginning through now it has provided essential housing support for the local HIV/AIDS community. Doorways accomplishes its goals (both at its organizational and staffing levels) with compassion and dedication.

Doorways is something special!!!!! I do not say this lightly. Over the last 10 years of my life working in non-profit, I must say the experience has not always been the best and could be very stressful. However, when I started my journey here with Doorways, this organization changed my total perspective and taught me the difference between management and leadership. It definitely says something about a place when your excited to see what's new on the horizon. In my short time here I have also had the opportunity to watch people be empowered to do what they love and to be supported during the journey.
Great Job Team!!!

DOORWAYS started as a grassroots organization that helped people living with AIDS a dignified place to die. NOW, it serves people who need supports to live the most independent, fulfilling lives possible. DOORWAYS meets people right where they are and does not pass judgement. Excellent work!

I am a board member as well as a former client/resident. I am so thankful for this organization. They were there for me at a time in my life when I had nowhere to go and no one to turn too. I was sick and malnourished. DOORWAYS took me in and provided me with much needed assistance getting medical care. Also they provided me a warm safe place to live where I could get better. The staff gave me hope for a brighter day. I began to believe in life again and that I had a future in it. Today I am healthy, happy and living independently. I attribute a lot of this to the love, care, and support I received and still receive from DOORWAYS.

As a member of the board of Doorways, I applaud the leadership of Opal Jones in building and strengthening a dedicated staff who provide outstanding supportive services to our clients who are living with HIV and AIDS. Housing is a basic need and a critical component to a person's health and life. This is what Doorways is providing to people who are coping with this chronic illness. Through the services provided by Doorways--such services as assistance with managing medications, teaching job and parenting skills, and, of course, securing a stable, safe residence--clients are able to achieve renewed independence and higher levels of physical, mental and emotional health. In addition to delivering life-transforming care for clients, Doorways demonstrates excellent stewardship of its resources, including finances and residential facilities, as well as planning for its future with strategic focus.

I have been a volunteer for Doorways for a few years now. I can state unequivocally that Doorways is a loving caring organization that takes excellent care of its clients and staff. They care. I am proud of the work they do for people living with HIV/AIDS. I hope my association with them will continue for many years to come.

I volunteer with Doorways and have consistently been impressed with the combination of client-centered care and high quality professional standards. Doorways provides crucial housing assistance and stability for families and individuals living with HIV, thereby enhancing health and well being in myriad ways. It's been a great privilege to see clients' health improve as a direct result of the housing and other important services offered by Doorways.

I volunteer for Doorways for two reasons. One, it produces results for people living with HIV/AIDS living in the St. Louis region and beyond. Two, as a volunteer it offers me the opportunity to put my skill set to work making a difference every day and treats me with the same respect and dignity if offers its clients. A top notch organization! Jennifer Jones, Volunteer

With 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit field, I value the integrity with which DOORWAYS conducts itself as a nonprofit in the business of improving the health of the bi-state region. The organization has a living wage policy for its employees, offers great benefits and support. The administration conducts itself within all accepted best practices in its management style. The programming staff provides outstanding service to its clients. As an organization that started in 1988, DOORWAYS has grown into a national leader in both the housing and HIV fields. Until HIV and homelessness are no longer issues that need to be addressed, I am glad DOORWAYS is here.

Management at this organization has it's best interest in mind. They do not take care of the type needs there type tenants require. The Gertrude building comes to mind as a major health hazardous building. It is not energy efficient as doors, windows, and tuck point needs to be done. It has asbestos air ducts in its basements, the back decks are falling apart. The front porch is cracking from foundation issues and walls on inside are cracking. If tenant reports any problems they get the " if you do not like it move" quoted verbatim. All tenant are with severe health issues and deserve better. The appliances are not energy efficient the floors are paper thin and uneven in some apartments to the point you have hard time placing furniture. It is really sad that the tenant's are being treated trash and the landlord's have not even completed there kitchens with baseboards and painting after the did the crap design of an eat in kitchen area. Opal Jones was head of that disaster.