Open Doors Social Services

TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO OVERCOME ABUSE AND PROVERTY, AND TO ATTAIN SELF-RELIANCE.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IS LOCATING THEM; THEREFORE, OPEN DOORS PUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES INTO STREET OUTREACH TO FIND AND ASSIST MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AS A RESULT, OPEN DOORS MORE THAN DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED REACHING A TOTAL OF 77 INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS UP FROM 34 OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. THE PURPOSE OF CRISIS NURSERY SERVICES IS TO PROVIDE SAFE CARE FOR CHILDREN WHEN PARENTS AND FAMILIES ARE FACING STRESSES THAT MAY LEAD TO NEGLECT OR ABUSE. OPEN DOORS PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND PREVENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT SO THAT OVERNIGHT CARE OF CHILDREN BECOMES LARGELY UNNECESSARY. BY OFFERING ADDITIONAL PREVENTION SERVICES, OPEN DOORS WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CRISIS CARE HOURS THAT CHILDREN SPENT AT OUR CENTER BY 64% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, REQUIRING ONLY 69 HOURS OF CRISIS CARE COMPARED TO 194 HOURS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. OVERALL A FEWER FAMILIES WERE SERVED, HOWEVER, THE OUTCOMES FOR THESE FAMILIES IMPROVED. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR, 84% OF PARENTS USING NURSERY SERVICES REPORTED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED DECREASED STRESS IN THEIR FAMILIES COMPARED TO 81% IN THE PRIOR YEAR. EVEN MORE STRIKING, 82% OF PARENTS REPORTED THIS YEAR THAT USING THE NURSERY EASED STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS, UP FROM 74% OF PARENTS REPORTING IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. NURSERY SERVICES STRENGTHEN FAMILIES. THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) AND EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) PROGRAM INCREASED THE NUMBER OF TAX RETURNS PREPARED FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY NEARLY 100, RESULTING IN EVEN MORE MONEY BEING RETURNED TO SOME OF THE MOST FINANCIALLY VULNERABLE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE CIRCLES SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM BEGAN SERVING 13 HOMELESS YOUTH AT CLEARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HELP THESE STUDENTS STAY IN SCHOOL, IMPROVE THEIR GRADES, LEARN CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS, AND EXPLORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THEIR INCOME. THIS PROGRAM STARTED NEAR THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND ALREADY HELPED ONE YOUNG PERSON GAIN SUMMER EMPLOYMENT. OPEN DOORS HIRED A LANDLORD-TENANT MEDIATOR TO HELP VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECEIVE SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT WHEN STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR RENT OR FACING EVICTION. HAVING A KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON PROVIDE EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT DURING STRESSFUL TIMES THAT CAN LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN A GREAT HELP TO THE COMMUNITY.