DAVENPORT, IOWA (September 14, 2021) — Last month, residents of Crestwood Apartments in Davenport faced the acute stress of finding new housing after the complex was deemed unsafe to live in. For one individual, relief came through Open Door Crisis Assistance, a program of SAL Family and Community Services (SAL) dedicated to helping those in crisis access community resources.
During an event hosted by Open Door and the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus to provide free supplies to displaced Crestwood residents, Tammy Trice, an Open Door coordinator, connected with one resident who had only just moved in. As they spoke, Trice was surprised to realize that this woman had called Open Door several months before, seeking shelter while fleeing domestic violence.
“She was in such a panic that in the midst of our conversation, she hung up,” recalled Trice. “All I knew was that she worked at a local retailer, so I went all around looking for her, but I couldn’t find her.”
After the chance meeting at Crestwood, Trice drew on Open Door’s connections with local landlords to secure affordable housing for the client. Learning that the client didn’t have a bed, Trice reached out to another partner, Humble Dwellings, which provides gently used furniture and household goods to those in need. Humble Dwellings went further, completely furnishing the new apartment with everything else the client needed.
“This is exactly why we have programs like Open Door at SAL — to help establish strong foundations at any stage of life,” said Marcy Mendenhall, president and CEO of SAL. “We know that when people are connected to the tools they need to overcome the barriers they face, our whole community is stronger.”
The program is built on an understanding of the wide array of support services individuals and families may need to regain stability and fully contribute to the community’s well-being. Other resources Open Door helps connect clients to include food, clothing, employment, transportation, mental-health services, legal services, and more.
According to Loredia Nunn-Dixon, director of Open Door, many people who have experienced domestic violence return to the situation out of need. “Having her own resources and support groups such as Open Door will help this individual avoid going back,” said Nunn-Dixon. “She’s stable and ready to move forward.”
Trice added that Open Door keeps the lines of communications open. “If our clients ever run into another barrier, they can call us and know we’re going to continue navigating resources for them.”
For Nunn-Dixon and Trice, the story is a testament to Open Door’s ability to tackle major issues like housing by connecting clients with the individual services and resources that meet their immediate and long-term needs. “The takeaway for me is that this program works,” said Nunn-Dixon. “It’s valuable to the people we serve, and it adds value to the other social services agencies that exist in our community.”
The recent Crestwood evictions underscore the importance of affordable housing in the Quad Cities. “We shouldn’t be satisfied until we know that the last person in that complex has moved out and that they’re stable,” said Trice.
“Housing is critical, and it can be hard to find, especially for individuals who are low-income or have an eviction on their record — or those who can’t get into subsidized housing,” added Nunn-Dixon. “Without housing, an individual is likely to fall into crisis or crime. It’s a no-win situation.”
To those in crisis, Open Door’s message is clear: “There is support for you. You don’t have to be alone,” said Nunn-Dixon. “This is a program you can trust. We’ll walk the walk and be there with you.”
ABOUT SAL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Founded in 1970 by a community action group who saw a need for quality child care for low-income working families in the Moline area, today SAL Family and Community Services (SAL) provides support not only for children but also for adults. SAL operates six community-focused programs: Skip-a-Long Child Development Services, the Home Child Care Network, Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships, Open Door Crisis Assistance, SAL Child Care Connection, and Child Care Resource and Referral.
Open Door Crisis Assistance is a one-stop resource to connect to community services and resources providing food, clothing, a safe home, transportation, and other immediate and long-term needs. The program has an office located next door to the Rock Island, Illinois, Skip-a-Long center, serving Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties, and an office inside Friendly House in Davenport, Iowa, that specializes in working with victims and witnesses of crime.
