FAQ

In the fall of 1997, a member of the Dubuque City Council recognized the need for emergency and transitional housing for women and children. This need was brought to the attention of six Catholic women’s religious communities who committed seed money for the project. Check out more about our history at: http://www.openingdoorsdbq.org/aboutus/history.html

Opening Doors was incorporated on June 18, 1999, and became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization.

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Mission Statement: Opening Doors offers hospitality and opportunity to women, alone or with children, who need emergency/transitional housing and related support services.
Vision: In collaboration with existing community resources and services, our vision is to offer a variety of opportunities for women to affirm their dignity and to achieve their potential for independent living in an environment that will benefit the neighborhood.

Compassion– To demonstrate a caring concern for each person 
Respect – To treat each person with dignity 
Affirmation – To invite and encourage personal development 
Hospitality – To offer a welcoming environment

Opening Doors is the nonprofit organization that operates Maria House and Teresa Shelter.  Homeless women, alone or with children, come to us to help rebuild their lives.  We provide goal setting and life skills training that will enable them to take care of themselves and achieve their full potential.  Women are dependent when they come in…independent when they leave. 

Since 2000 Maria House has provided transitional housing, where residents can stay for as long as two years.  In 2006, we opened Teresa Shelter.  It offers the same transitional housing, as well as short-term emergency shelter services. Click here to see more information. 

Yes.  Opening Doors is very grateful for the support it receives from the United Way, which amounts to about 6 percent of our annual budget.

• Donations: 62%
• Grants: 29%
• United Way: 6%
• Program Fees: 2%
• Interest: 1%

Maria House has a capacity of up to 18 women and children and Teresa Shelter has 28 available beds.

• Volunteer: contact Judy at volunteer@openingdoorsdbq.org)  or go to http://www.openingdoorsdbq.org/waystohelp/volunteer.html
  
  
• Donate: your tax-deductible cash donation would be greatly appreciated! 
  Click here to make an online donation
  
  
• Wish List Donation:  
  Click here for a list of items that are needed at Maria House and Teresa Shelter.
  
  
• Get involved in “Attitude of Gratitude,” our fall dinner & auction, coming Saturday, November 19 to the Grand River Center. Click here for participant and sponsor information.
  
  
• Participate in our 5K Run & Walk scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2012.  More information coming soon!  Click here for participant and sponsor information.
  
  
• Host a community fundraiser!  Click here for a list of our generous partners of all ages!
  
  
• Make a tax-deductible donation to our 2011 “Doorways to Hope” Decade of Service campaign. 

No. There are several other excellent programs that have some commonalities with the programs offered by Opening Doors, but none that offer the same services.

• Hillcrest Transitional Apartment program has five apartments.  Families, including men, can live for up to two years in a temporary, supported housing program.
• Safe Strides offers emergency housing for single women with a capacity of 8 beds.
• Manasseh House and Salvia House offer permanent housing for single women, with support services.
• The Domestic Violence Shelter operated by the Dubuque Community Y operates a shelter for women who are currently experiencing an abusive situation.  Opening Doors does not provide the safe house environment required for this population.  However, women sometimes move to Maria House or Teresa Shelter after they have completed their 60-day maximum stay at the Domestic Violence Shelter.