Open Doors Foundation KC

05/12/2026

We’ve been quiet for a while, because we’ve been busy working on a few projects.

As non-profit service providers, it’s our duty to get creative with fundraising to ensure we can sustain our programs and services. Welcome to the Hostel KC. The revenue generated by guests staying at the hostel during the World Cup will ensure Open Doors Foundation can sustain and expand programs within our low barrier shelter.

At the conclusion of the World Cup, this will become the home for all things Open Doors.

05/06/2026

02/19/2026

Putting faces to the story. 📸
This is LaToya, Jerry, and Jayvian, the family we recently shared.
Toya and Jerry are pushing forward, and their focus is giving Jayvian stability and a fresh start.
Right now, their biggest barrier is transportation.
They are relying on buses and expensive rideshares just to get to work and school and a reliable vehicle would change everything for this family’s ability to stay stable and keep moving forward.
We’re pushing hard to help them get there.
If you feel called to help, please consider donating, sharing this post, or reaching out about ways you can support. Every share helps put this family one step closer to independence.
Thank you for helping us open doors.
(Photos shared with permission.)

02/16/2026

Sometimes families do everything right and still end up with nowhere to go.
Meet LaToya, Jerry, and Jayvian.
After speaking up about unsafe living conditions, this family was evicted from their home. With no shelter options available that could keep them together, they were forced apart. Jerry ended up living on the streets before entering a transitional men’s program. Toya and her son searched for safety anywhere they could find it.
The shelter they landed in had a maximum stay, and they were exited during some of the coldest days we’ve had this winter. With no belongings and nowhere safe to sleep, Toya and Jayvian walked in freezing temperatures just trying to survive.
That same evening, our outreach team happened to be nearby. Toya took a flyer from us, even though Open Doors is a men’s shelter, and made her way to us anyway. She wasn’t willing to accept “no” when it came to protecting her family. Her strength, determination, and love for her son are something we will never forget.
And here’s what matters most: they weren’t giving up. Jerry continued showing up to work every day. Toya had already been hired by the IRS but was waiting through a government hiring freeze. They were working hard, doing their best, still going to work, still getting to school and still falling through the cracks.
These are the gaps Open Doors exists to fill.
Our team jumped into action, helping get them safely housed, clothed, fed, and supported while they rebuild. Toya started her job last week and is working tirelessly to create stability for her family.
Now we’re asking our community to help us carry them the rest of the way.
We are currently fundraising for:
A reliable vehicle so they can maintain work and transportation
Household items and home essentials for when they move into permanent housing
If you’ve ever wondered what your donations look like in real life this is it. A family staying together and a mom refusing to give up.

01/29/2026

This past weekend at Open Doors was one we won’t forget. While the cold hit hard outside, inside our shelter there was warmth, laughter, and connection. Board games, dominos, cards, movies on the projector, and lots of good food filled the space.
We spent time building trust through simple conversation, creating opportunities to talk about next steps, stability, and how we can walk alongside our guests toward independence. Just being present and treating people humanely goes a long way.
Thank you to everyone who donated clothes, blankets, and supplies! And a HUGE thank you to Sandra Prewitt Noll for providing a pizza night for the guys. She is always so thoughtful and generous in the way she supports our mission.
We are beyond grateful for our incredible staff who worked around the clock to provide a safe, warm place to call home during some of the coldest days of the year so far.
Thank you for helping us Open Doors!
📸 Photos have been altered to protect client privacy.

01/21/2026

🚨 SEVERE WEATHER NOTICE — OPEN 24/7 🚨
This weekend’s forecast is calling for a significant winter storm with heavy snow and ice. With conditions expected to be dangerous, Open Doors will be OPEN 24/7. We will not be sending people back out into this storm. We are creating a safe, warm space where individuals can stay while we wait this out together.
Our doors will remain open with supportive staff on-site around the clock, providing:
🤍 A warm, safe place to stay
🍲 Hot meals & drinks
🧺 Laundry services
🚿 Showers & restrooms
🛏️ A place to rest and sleep
👥 Supportive, caring staff 24/7
If you or someone you know needs a safe place during this storm, please come to Open Doors — and please share this post so others can find us.

How you can help us keep our doors open through this storm:
Severe weather means higher needs…more meals, more supplies, and more staff coverage. If you’re in a position to support, here are the most impactful ways to help right now:
❄️ Donate: Monetary donations allow us to immediately provide food, heat, and staffing during the storm.
❄️ Amazon Wishlist: Helps us quickly restock urgent items like food, socks, hygiene products, blankets, and cleaning supplies.
All ways to support are available here:
👉 www.OpenDoorsKC.org
Thank you for being part of the safety net. Your support truly makes nights like this possible.

we are striving to house the unhoused in the Kansas city metro.Opening doors to better futures Who We Are + What We Do Amazon Wishlist Give Support Get Involved At Open Doors we walk alongside individuals rebuilding after homelessness, incarceration, or addiction, offering transitional housing, job....

01/07/2026

We are so honored to be selected as the January nonprofit for Foster Wallace Personal Injury Lawyers 12 Months of Giving.
Thank you, Foster Wallace, for your incredibly generous $3,000 donation and for choosing to invest in the work being done through Open Doors Foundation. This support helps us provide resources, care, and real pathways forward for individuals in our community.

12/24/2025

Huge thank you to our community partners, Swope Health, for this huge donation of socks for our shelter guests!! We appreciate you all so much🎅🏻

12/22/2025

We are honored to welcome Steven Smiley, our first-ever shelter guest with a service dog, who came to us through an emergency placement after an unexpected issue with his housing voucher. Steven is currently awaiting approval for a new apartment, and in the meantime, Open Doors was able to step in so he didn’t have to face the cold or uncertainty alone.

This situation highlights one of the most critical gaps in our system. When paperwork stalls, vouchers get delayed, or approvals fall through, people are often left with nowhere to go—especially those who refuse to abandon their best friend. Too many individuals stay outside simply because shelters can’t accommodate their service animals or pets.

By intentionally filling these gaps, we’re able to provide safety, dignity, and warmth without forcing impossible choices. Steven and his service dog, Jasmine, have already been such a blessing to our space, and we are incredibly grateful to have them as part of the Open Doors family while he takes this next step toward permanent housing.

This is why low-barrier care matters.
This is why Open Doors exists. 🐾🚪

12/14/2025

Open Doors has been on scene multiple days through out the week to assist. This is a heartbreaking scenario and we have been truly amazed by all the team work and collaboration that has taken place in order to serve these individuals impacted by this closure.

Kansas City shelters are already at capacity, but with arctic temperatures approaching this weekend and dozens of people displaced from a shuttered motel, nonprofits are accommodating more people than ever.

READ MORE >>> https://www.kctv5.com/2025/12/13/nonprofits-work-overtime-displaced-families-face-arctic-cold/