The Open Door Shelter

Sheltering: sheltering provides a safe and secure haven to individuals and families experiencing homelessness while simultaneously providing case management services to rapidly reconnect to permanent sustainable housing. Along with Shelter case management we also provide a street outreach program providing The same level of case management to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness. This year The Shelter served 172 community members and connected 101 of them back to permanent housing. The street outreach team served 87 community members and ended street homelessness for 50 community members.in addition to sheltering services, this year Open doors began The social. This is a five day a week program providing The opportunity to engage in groups and activities aimed at increasing The skill sets needed to be a successful tenant and neighbor, improve coping skills, and engagement in The community. This program is Open to those experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, and those who have recently transitioned out of homelessness. Associated with The Shelter is norwalk community health center, who operate a medical and behavioral health clinic out of Open doors' smilow life center.open doors also operates a community closet program where clients can obtain clothing and some household goods. 984 individuals served46,728 items handed outthere is also an after school program held 2 days a week to help in-house client's children with their homework and provide them with arts & crafts and various fun projects.56 children served

Housing:open doors owns and operates 55 units of affordable and deeply affordable housing and provides housing for 67 community members. In addition, Open doors provided short-term and long-term case management services to community members transitioning out of homelessness into housing.

Nutrition:manna house provides 2 hot meals per day, breakfast, and dinner. Meals are provided to our sheltered, Open doors affordable housing tenants, and The local community. Special holiday meals are made for thanksgiving, christmas, and easter.manna house is heavily supported by numerous groups (churches, business, civic groups who actually cater meals throughout The months, as well as volunteers who help and distribute meals.92,642 meals were served in fiscal year 2024 a 29% increase over 2023.92,642 served to our community through The kitchen.44% were provided by meal donor groups.66% cooked in-house.the pantry is Open 5 days per week and is Open to our tenants and The local community. It provides a full range of food groups canned and dry, produce, bakery items, dairy, frozen meats and fish, snack items. It is Open by appointment with The ability to come every two weeks to shop.1,011 individuals served9,845 bags of grocery through The food pantry or 195,480 lbs. Of groceries.for thanksgiving, christmas and easter The pantry has a gift basket program that provides 2 bags of groceries (including turkeys and hams) for a full holiday meal to an average of 232 families each holiday, each year.the pantry also receives a lot of local support from The feeding 500 group, community food drives, a number of supermarkets and businesses such a panera and chic-fil-a, as well as The food bank.

Economic opportunity hub:the economic opportunity hub (eoh) services greater norwalk residents that are at 40% or below area median income (ami) and are experiencing a housing cost burden, paying 30% or more of income towards housing cost, are experiencing homelessness, or are doubled up. The eoh has three components: 1. Access to income benefits (snap, medical insurance, energy assistance, etc. ), 2. Employment placement and coaching and access to workforce development certification programs, and 3. Long-term financial coaching. The funding received supports The role of employment specialist, tasked with assisting program enrollees with sustainable employment through soft skills training, job placement, and retention into livable wage jobs.this project supports low-income earners in The city of norwalk. Many norwalk residents suffered The loss of employment and/or a reduction in household income during The pandemic. As a result, inflation and increased living costs destabilized norwalk households. Impacted families moved to more affordable living areas. The eoh assists these residents with first income benefits to stabilize The household, employment services to increase income and long-term financial coaching to create household budgets, increase savings, decrease debt, and increase credit scores.open doors creates successful partnerships with best-in-class, third party providers to deliver client services beyond The scope of our expertise and resources. These partnerships enhance our bco programs by ensuring clients receive comprehensive services that help improve their financial stability and career development. The following partnerships are examples in ways that Open doors enriches both financial literacies, as well as career and employment advancement: financial literacy: in partnership with banks, Open doors offers clients financial literacy virtual workshops on topics such as: understanding your paycheck, opening a checking or savings account, budgeting, banking and investing, and credit and debt. In partnership with catholic charities of fairfield county, Open doors provides clients with immigration information sessions, refers clients who are working one-on-one with our financial literacy coach to cc's family loan program to access loans of up to $10,000 at only a 5.5% interest rate. Employment and educational partnerships: Open doors partners with career resources and waveny life network to operate a certified nurse's assistant (can) certification program with immediate employment at waveny life network. Open doors continues to plan and host pop up workforce and career development events. This educates clients and community members about workforce development resources, training, and employment opportunities. Event partners include career resources, Inc., career connect, and norwalk community college. In partnership with stamford adult and continuing education, Open doors offers two esl classes a day, four days a week in our smilow life center and a ged prep course two times a week. Open doors partners with career resources to offer free computer learning courses virtually. Open doors helps ensure clients have access to reliable transportation in partnership with The norwalk transit district and tapping their existing programs and services.stats:in fy24 (7/1/23-6/30/24), 404 clients residing in The greater norwalk area utilized eoh services. 282 clients were placed in jobs, 174 retained employments beyond 180 days, and 315 increased their monthly income.