Posted June 27, 2025
DOORWAYS | 1101 N. Jefferson Avenue | St. Louis MO 63106
DOORWAYS Celebrates the 2025
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Juneteenth is a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
St. Louis, MO – The word “Juneteenth” was first used in the 1890s referring to June 19, 1865, the day the final state enforced the Emancipation Proclamation. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for the national abolition of slavery was passed by Congress in January 1865. By the end of that year, all enslaved people were freed, with the first Juneteenth celebrations in 1866.
In honor of this historic event, DOORWAYS housing programs host events for residents. This year’s activity was a night of fun and fellowship, playing music bingo at Elliott Place. Each guest received a bingo card filled with song titles. As clips of the songs were played, participants marked their cards until a winning combination was reached. Winners chose from a colorful table of prizes. A buffet of snacks, including themed popcorn, set the tone for the celebration.
Elliott Place is one of the two housing facilities managed by the DOORWAYS Comprehensive Flexible Housing (CFH) program. CFH Program Assistant Jennifer Boston and CFH Program Director Maurice Tracy brought energy and excitement as co-hosts. Events like this strengthen connections among residents and help foster a meaningful support system within the community. We are always seeking organizations to sponsor resident activities. Please visit our volunteer page if you know of a group that may be interested.
ABOUT DOORWAYS
Founded in 1988, DOORWAYS provides housing and 360 degrees of wrap-around services to people at the intersection of poverty, homelessness, and illness from HIV. Each year, we serve approximately 3,000 clients and family members in 124 counties spread across Missouri and Illinois. Expanding over the years to meet growing depth and breadth of need, DOORWAYS evolved from a hospice caring for the dying to an agency building lives for the living. We currently own 11 buildings with 219 apartments offering five housing platforms—emergency housing, flexible housing, assistive housing for those too ill to live independently, permanent housing, and, to prevent homelessness for people in their own accommodations, rent/utility subsidies.
Housing is supplemented by empowerment services to build the social determinants of health (housing, health, food security, employment/income, education, community, etc.) that are needed to advance towards a life of opportunity and independence. We use individualized case management, resource referrals, self-development programming, employment support, behavioral health counseling, and psychiatric care. To remove barriers to essential resources, we have arranged to have a BOCA Pharmacy and a Key Clinic on campus. Both are open to anyone in the community who wishes to use these services. Pairing a clinic next to a pharmacy strengthens the circle of care.
Through this mix of services to stabilize housing, health, and hope, clients begin their journey toward a more self-directed life. Once housed and linked with their care coordinator, clients are encouraged to comply with an HIV-medication regimen that can help them attain undetectable status. When HIV is undetectable, life span and quality of life improve for the individual. Additionally, undetectable means untransmittable (U=U), stopping new cases–opening the door to ending HIV in future generations.
For more information, please review this website or contact the agency at info@doorwayshousing.orgs
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