Services – The Open Door, Inc.

Our Services

Our Model

The Open Door, Inc. works to help our participants reduce the chaos in their lives, to increase their experiences of feeling valued, and to address mid- and long-term individual goals, emphasizing treatment adherence.

Our program builds on three key strategies:

Housing First Model

“Housing first” is crucial to helping our participants regain self-confidence and control over their lives, which is key to helping them access life-saving clinical care services. The “housing first” model prioritizes housing before all other goals.

Peer Model

Peer staff help our participants build inroads to stability. These paid staff members are themselves living with HIV and/or in recovery, and are directly aligned with the health care and social service systems that participants need.

Harm Reduction Philosophy

In addition to our “housing first” model of care, we utilize a harm reduction approach. We meet all of those we encounter where they are at and support them in achieving THEIR goals.

The Open Door, Inc. provides a multitude of services to ensure our participants have a successful transition into stable housing and continue to maintain stable housing. The services offered are:

Transportation Assistance

Resource Navigation

Service Coordination

Workforce Development

Harm Reduction Services

Quality of Life Events

Transitional Housing

The Open Door, Inc. owns and operates a 14-unit transitional housing building in the Northside. Each resident has a one-bedroom apartment with a private kitchen, bathroom, and living space. Once housed, participants work with our housing engagement specialists and case managers to develop a long-term housing plan, access local resources, and address gaps in their healthcare. This program provides a safe, supportive environment while they plan their next steps. On average, participants transition to permanent housing within 10 to 18 months.

Representative Payee Program

This program supports individuals who are HIV+ and receive SSI/SSDI but struggle with financial management, which can lead to housing instability or difficulty meeting basic needs. The Open Door, Inc. is appointed by the Social Security Administration to receive and manage participants’ benefits based on an individualized, client-approved budget. This program has helped many participants achieve long-term stable housing by ensuring rent and bills are paid on time while they work toward financial independence.

Non-Medical Case Management

We provide personalized support to help participants navigate daily life challenges, including applying for benefits, accessing healthcare, securing identification, and connecting to housing or recovery resources. Our team also offers crisis de-escalation, advocacy, and job readiness support. The goal is to reduce stressors that affect participants’ stability so they can focus on their health and long-term well-being.

Referrals

Any individual who is HIV+ and receives SSI/SSDI can be referred to our Representative Payee Program. We do not discriminate against applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, gender expression/identity, or income. An HIV diagnosis is our ONLY eligibility criterion.

To refer a client to our housing and/or representative payee program, please email [email protected], and a member of our team will reach out to discuss eligibility and gather additional information.