Who
People living with HIV experience compromised immune systems, making them susceptible to sickness. While they may currently have housing, an extended illness could cause a loss of income, jeopardizing that housing. Those experiencing long-term poverty may be employed at low-wage jobs with variable hours, creating difficulty with paying bills.
The Own Home Subsidy Program serves those individuals with HIV living in their own accommodations in the St. Louis metropolitan area (Missouri and Illinois) with income at or below 50% Area Median Income (AMI) and experiencing financial difficulty. Typically, of households served, 55-65% of the residents are children.
What
The largest of DOORWAYS’ six housing programs, Own Home provides temporary financial assistance to prevent homelessness. Payments can cover rent, utilities, a mortgage, a move-in deposit, etc. Functioning independent from the other five DOORWAYS housing programs, Own Home also serves as an extension of those programs. Clients who achieve housing independence after support through the Cooper House, Comprehensive Flex Housing/Emergency Housing, Jumpstart, or Residential Programs may need injections of financial support as they work to achieve and maintain housing stability.
Own Home clients were critically affected by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. They primarily work in the service industry, which was deeply impacted by the coronavirus economic shutdowns. During the pandemic, this program allocated 43% more funds than prior years, breaking all agency records with $4.3M in assistance distributed.
Success
As a program offering temporary assistance to support clients through difficult financial circumstances, the goal is to prevent homelessness. Own Home is successful when clients are able to retain their housing with one or two requests for assistance each year.
If you are interested in assistance, please click here to go to the CLIENT PROCESS page or call the program office at 314-328-2710 during office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
in Subsidy Assistance was distributed in FY21,
a 43% increase over the prior year.
Client Comments
“Thank you so much for the home assistance. It has truly blessed me, and I’m very grateful. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!”
Submitted by Client TR to staff member William Brickhouse, August 27, 2022
DOORWAYS PARTICIPATING IN AMEREN'S KEEPING CURRENT PROGRAM
Keeping Current is a payment assistance program that helps make paying your energy bill more affordable. Households with incomes less than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for a monthly bill credit, along with help to reduce the total amount owed.
“Thank you for enrolling me in the Keeping Current Program. They gave me a $60 credit and I only have to pay $7. That’s a huge help to me with trying to juggle to stay on top of bills.”
Client MS 9/14/23