Empowering Women, Changing LiveS
Opening Doors uplifts and empowers women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty. Through housing, support, and comprehensive services, we collaborate with dynamic partners to provide hospitality, hope, and opportunity to over 5,000 women and their children. Our work builds a compassionate community and invests in a brighter future, helping women and their families overcome hardship, achieve self-sufficiency, and embark on paths to independence and success.
In Need of Shelter?
Call Teresa Shelter at 563.690.0086
Emergency and extended stay program are based upon availability. For additional resources please call the Homeless Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week dial 2-1-1.
Three Doorways to Hope
Since organizational inception, our work has grown to encompass four locations including our operations center and three separate facilities including emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing. Our approach prioritizes key pillars: maintaining sobriety, securing full-time employment, regularly meeting with a case manager, and saving 30% of income. Due to these values, we are limited in our access to state and federal funding, as we choose to uphold our long-term vision over short-term compliance.
Teresa Shelter
Maria House
Francis Apartments
Emergency and Extended Stay Programs
Transitional Houseing for up to two years
Income-based affordable housing
Three Doorways to Hope
Since organizational inception, our work has grown to encompass four locations including our operations center and three separate facilities including emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing. Our approach prioritizes key pillars: maintaining sobriety, securing full-time employment, regularly meeting with a case manager, and saving 30% of income. Due to these values, we are limited in our access to state and federal funding, as we choose to uphold our long-term vision over short-term compliance.
We’re more than partners with the National Women’s Shelter Network—we’re family helping families.
The NWSN has officially launched a national toll-free help line designed to connect women, children, and families experiencing—or at risk of—homelessness with shelter and supportive resources through its trusted member network.
This new resource expands access to safe, dignified, and trauma-informed pathways forward, especially for individuals navigating crisis, displacement, or housing instability.
NWSN National Help Line:
1-833-THE-NWSN (1-833-843-6976)
Opening Doors is proud to stand alongside the National Women’s Shelter Network (NWSN) as they take a major step forward in strengthening access to safe shelter across the country.
Why This Matters to Opening Doors?
As a proud NWSN member, we believes deeply in shared solutions, collective advocacy, and systems-level change. This national help line strengthens the continuum of care by:
- Improving access to shelter information
- Reducing barriers for women and families seeking help
- Amplifying the reach and impact of local programs through national collaboration
Together, we are building a stronger, more connected safety net—because safe shelter saves lives.
Please follow important disclaimers – The NWSN toll-free number does not replace emergency services.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local emergency services.
Community Partners
John Deere
Portzen Consturciton
Municipal Well & Pump
Hirschbauch Motor Lines
Verena Street
Lime Rocks Spring Co.
Flynn Family Foundation
All sister communities
AY McDonlad
McCoy Group
Tricon Construction
Cottingham & Butler
Dubuque StamPing & Manufacturing
Universal Tank & Fabrication
Dupaco COMMUNITY Credit Union
UMB Bank
DRA
News
Counting What Matters: How the PIT Count Supports Our Neighbors
Each year, the Point-in-Time Count provides a critical snapshot of homelessness in our community, helping identify service gaps and guide funding decisions at the local,
Attitude of Gratitude 2025 – Event Recap & Your Impact
With so many exciting things happening at Opening Doors, we’re thrilled to finally share a full recap of this year’s Attitude of Gratitude, and what
Help Us With a Critical Need
Every day, women and children call Opening Doors home. Right now, over 30 individuals are living in our emergency shelter and transitional housing. Together, we
Back to School: Ensuring Every Child Has a Fair Start
As backpacks are packed and classrooms fill with the energy of a new school year, we’re reminded of the excitement and hope this season brings.
Events
Visit Support the Mission of Opening Doors
The women in our programs come from diverse backgrounds, with lived experiences including domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and generational poverty. At Opening Doors, we treat each woman and child with dignity, offering personalized, comprehensive case management. Through this process, women are empowered to realize their full potential by setting achievable goals, gaining employment support, receiving life skills training, and participating in financial literacy programs, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, and health care services. We also provide access to essential resources like food and clothing, helping them move toward stable, independent living.
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We are incredibly proud to share that two members of the Opening Doors team have been nominated for the 19th Annual Women of Achievement Awards - Women's Leadership Network of Dubuque 💛 ✨ Ashley Ehrlich, Program Director ✨ Natalie Finley, Marketing & Development Director To serve alongside women who lead with heart, vision, and an unwavering commitment to our community is such an honor. These nominations reflect not just individual leadership, but the power of a small, mighty team working every day to support women and children on their journey from crisis to stability. Thank you to the WLN committee and to our community for recognizing the work happening inside our walls and beyond. We are proud. We are grateful. And we are inspired by all of the incredible nominees. Join us in celebrating on March 26th at the Hotel Julien Dubuque. 🎟️ Last day to purchase tickets: March 16th https://www.dubuquewln.org/events/19th-annual-women-of-achievement-awards-dinner
COMMUNITY IN ACTION- Errand Boys We are so grateful for our continued partnership with Errand Boys as they showed up once again in a big way this weekend! On Saturday morning, they helped one of our residents move from the Teresa Shelter into her very own apartment. The best part? She independently called Errand Boys herself to schedule the move- not even realizing we already had a partnership in place. When we reached out to ask if they might consider a small discount, they went above and beyond and provided a significant reduction in cost to make this transition more affordable for her. That’s what community looks like. It’s local businesses stepping up. It’s partnerships making independence possible. It’s women moving from crisis to stability with dignity. Thank you, Errand Boys, for helping make fresh starts possible. 🏡✨
As part of our commitment to not only serve women and their children experiencing homelessness but to advocate for policies that support long-term stability- we want to share information about Iowa HF 2584, which is now moving to the Senate. This legislation would create enhanced criminal penalties in designated “Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones,” singling out areas where unhoused individuals receive services. While the bill is framed around public safety, we are concerned about the unintended consequences. At Opening Doors, and alongside our partner agencies, we work every day to move individuals from crisis to stability through shelter, housing assistance, employment support, and connections to treatment and recovery services. Increasing criminal penalties in the very places designed to help people may deepen instability rather than address root causes. Research and lived experience - show that involvement in the criminal justice system creates additional barriers to housing and employment. Fines, court costs, and legal records can extend the time it takes for someone to regain stability and self-sufficiency. We also have concerns about potential liability impacts on service providers and frontline staff. Added legal risk could strain already limited nonprofit resources at a time when affordable housing shortages and service demands are increasing across Iowa. We believe lasting solutions should focus on: • Expanding affordable housing • Strengthening supportive shelter services • Investing in prevention efforts • Increasing access to treatment and recovery services We encourage community members to stay informed and engage respectfully with elected officials as this bill moves forward. If you would like more information or contact details for your state legislators, please reach out to our team. Policy matters. Stability matters. People matter.
A big shout out to Ray at Smart Recycling for stepping up to support our team and residents. Your willingness to help makes a real difference in the day-to-day operations that keep our programs running smoothly. We’re grateful for partners like you who show up for our mission and the women and children we serve. https://smartrecyclingdubuque.com/
We’re honored to kick off #WomensHistoryMonth by highlighting the voices behind the scenes- the women who help guide, govern, and strengthen Opening Doors through board leadership. Meet Madelynn Harris, Board Member and leader at Hotel Julien Dubuque Madelyn joined our board in 2025 bringing more than just a seat at the table- she brought a vision for the future. A vision rooted in responsibility, growth, and meaningful impact for women and children in our community. “For me, being on the Opening Doors board means being able to show up in a way that actually matters. It is not just a title. It is being part of the conversations and decisions that directly impact people in our community.” Board service isn’t visible every day but it shapes every day. From strategic planning to sustainability, advocacy to accountability, our board members help ensure that Opening Doors continues to grow, evolve, and serve in the best way possible. Madelyn, thank you for your leadership and your commitment to long-term stability and dignity for those we serve. Throughout March, we’ll be celebrating the women who lead behind the scenes because strong missions are built by strong partners. - Check out the upcoming special - Dinner For A Cause: Opening Doors + Caroline's #WomensHistoryMonth #OpeningDoorsDBQ #WomenWhoLead #behindthemission
Thank you to the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa for hosting Opening Doors for a special Gather & Grow presentation. ❤️ As we step into 2026, we’re hitting the ground running by bringing our virtual tour into spaces and places that may not be able to attend an in-person visit. While there is nothing quite like walking through our spaced firsthand, we know schedules, mobility, and logistics can sometimes make that difficult. Our virtual tour allows us to: • Increase accessibility • Reach new audiences • Break down misconceptions about homelessness • Share how our program-first model creates pathways from crisis to stability Education builds understanding. Understanding builds advocacy. And advocacy builds lasting change. We are especially grateful to the Sisters for being part of our beginning, our middle, and our future. The religious community laid the foundation for Opening Doors, and their compassion, leadership, and unwavering belief in the dignity of every woman and child is the reason we are here today. We truly could not do this work without you! Thank you for helping build a better community.
With the help of both the Teresa Shelter and Maria House I know I can do anything if I just stay positive and put my mind to it. With you having “Open Doors” there is hope for everyone who enters the programs.