Open Door / Next Door

What is their Mission?

The Open Door & Next Door Shelters exist to share God's love and care with the homeless and working poor through a support system that provides shelter for the body, community for the spirit, and structure to achieve personal and economic stability.

They have two major ministries.

• The shelter programs at the Open Door and Next Door serve men and women who are homeless, willing and able to work, and 17 to 35 years old.
• The Residence Program for Working People serves people who are employed but who 1) do not earn enough to be able to afford market rate rents, 2) may have credit problems or other issues that prevent them from securing housing, and 3) can benefit from interpersonal support for life stability.

When homeless young men and women identify and fight the causes of their homelessness and become financially stable and self-supporting it is a great benefit to our community. When low-paid workers who are at risk of homelessness can enjoy good places to live at rates they can afford and can benefit from strong personal support and care it is also very good for our entire community

How Can You Help?

1. Pick up donated furniture like mattresses, sofas, chairs, etc. once a month.
2. Help shelter staff Work a 2 - 4 hour shift between 3 pm and 10 pm. Meet and greet guests, answer the phone, build relationships.
3. Snow plowing & yard care. Plow the driveway at one or more of our 7 buildings. Care for the yard at one of our properties. Most of our yards are very small.
4. Help with home repair. Help on an as-needed basis with plumbing, furnace, appliance, electrical, painting, or other kinds repairs. Sign up to be on a call list for the type of work that feels comfortable to you.
5. Help with transportation Help guests get to work at times when no busses run.
6. Do all guest chores for one day providing a chore-free day as a gift for the guests.
7. Provide "spring" "fall" or special cleaning at one of our shelters.
8. Clean and prepare an apartment or room after a resident moves out.
9. Shop for groceries for one of the shelters after meeting with the House Program Director to make a list. (We'll pay the bill!)
10. Prepare and deliver a special birthday meal or other birthday recognition for a guest.

Open Door/Next Door can also use PROFESSIONAL help:

1. Medical care: help our guests get a physical and establish a relationship with a primary care provider (possibly through Family Health Center). Serve as primary care physician for one or more of our guests.
2. Dental care: help our guests get a cleaning and an assessment of their dental health (possibly at KVCC's dental hygiene program).
3. Legal assistance. Advise our guests or board on legal issues.
4. Income tax Help guests with taxes.

Find Out More Information

Call Rick Stravers at 269-343-6064

Visit the Open Door/Next Door Webpage

www.opendoornextdoor.org

"Not-So-Extreme" Home Makeover 2008

Adopting an apartment in our Residence Program is a great family or church group project! Groups paint, clean and furnish the rooms that they adopt, making them ready for our Residence Program participants to move in.

We need Groups to adopt studio apartments at our new building. The apartments are in good shape, but need sprucing up and furniture.

Interested in exploring this rewarding opportunity to provide more people a welcome home?

Contact Jari Pulford at 731-424258 or jaripulford@aol.com.