MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Every Tuesday, as part of our Greater Memphis on a Mission series, we highlight organizations making Memphis better. This week, we caught up with a group that believes that housing is a right.
Louis White was just a teenager when his family lost their home.
“Me and my mom got kicked out by our landlord,” said White. “If we’re going to be homeless, I’d rather we just sleep on the streets than to be separated.”
That was over three years ago.
For the last two years, Louis, who is now 20, has had a roof over his head thanks to Door of Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides free housing and support services for individuals who are chronically homeless and have a disability.
“We provide what’s called low-barrier housing, which is, we don’t background check our program participants, we don’t check for criminal records, we don’t require any strenuous requirements like weekly drug testing, or you have to comply with treatment for housing. We take our clients as they are,” said Porsha Goodman, Door of Hope executive director.
Once the person is settled into a safe and comfortable place, that’s when a case manager can assist with resources.
“If someone’s like, ‘I want employment,’ we have a wonderful case management team who will help them with resume writing and help them, take them on job interviews,” said Goodman. “If a client has a goal of ‘I want to complete my education goal,’ we’re there to walk them through that process of applying for applications.”
Inside their three different single room occupancy facilities, program participants have their own fully furnished one-bedroom room, private bathroom, and have access to a shared kitchen, laundry room, and two activity rooms.
In addition to housing, White was able to take part in their youth program.
“They help you with, say, you need your birth certificate, your ID, you need to get your benefits back in order,” White said.
Louis is now enrolled in online classes and majoring in business administration.
“I see Door of Hope as hope. They helped me out,” said White.
That is why Brown Missionary Baptist Church and the Mid-South Genesis CDC donated $1,000 to Door of Hope. Because access to stable housing builds a better quality of life.