Empowering Women, Changing LiveS

Opening Doors uplifts and empowers women and children experiencing homelessness and poverty. Through housing, support, and comprehensive services, we collaborate with dynamic partners to provide hospitality, hope, and opportunity to over 5,000 women and their children. Our work builds a compassionate community and invests in a brighter future, helping women and their families overcome hardship, achieve self-sufficiency, and embark on paths to independence and success.

In Need of Shelter?

Call Teresa Shelter at 563.690.0086

Emergency and extended stay program are based upon availability. For additional resources please call the Homeless Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week dial 2-1-1.

Three Doorways to Hope

Since organizational inception, our work has grown to encompass four locations including our operations center and three separate facilities including emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing. Our approach prioritizes key pillars: maintaining sobriety, securing full-time employment, regularly meeting with a case manager, and saving 30% of income. Due to these values, we are limited in our access to state and federal funding, as we choose to uphold our long-term vision over short-term compliance.

Teresa Shelter

Maria House

Francis Apartments

Emergency and Extended Stay Programs

Transitional Houseing for up to two years

Income-based affordable housing

Three Doorways to Hope

Since organizational inception, our work has grown to encompass four locations including our operations center and three separate facilities including emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing. Our approach prioritizes key pillars: maintaining sobriety, securing full-time employment, regularly meeting with a case manager, and saving 30% of income. Due to these values, we are limited in our access to state and federal funding, as we choose to uphold our long-term vision over short-term compliance.

Teresa
Shelter

Emergency and Extended Stay Programs

Maria
House

Transitional Houseing for up to two years

Francis Apartments

Income-based affordable housing

Upcoming Events

Views Navigation

Event Views Navigation

Today

Great Give Day

Opening Doors Dubuque 2100 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA, United States

The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is excited to present Great Give Day, our annual online giving event to connect nonprofits and donors across our seven-county region (Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, […]

Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting

Maria House 1561 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA, United States

FREE Event on Thursday June 5th- Join Opening Doors as we celebrate 25 years of empowering women and children in our community! We're marking this incredible milestone with a Ribbon Cutting […]

Filling Your Cup

Hotel Julien 200 Main St, Dubuque, IA, United States

Sponsorship Menu (PDF) Purchase Tickets We are thrilled to announce that Jasmine Brett Stringer will be joining us as the keynote speaker for this year’s summer event, Filling Your Cup. Meet Jasmine Brett Stringer! Jasmine Brett Stringer is a renowned keynote speaker, award-winning author of Seize Your Life: How to Carpe Diem Every Day, on-air […]

Save the Date: Attitude of Gratitude

Grand River Center 500 Bell St., Dubuque, IA, United States

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 15, 2025, as we gather at the Grand River Center in Dubuque for our 23rd Annual Attitude of Gratitude Gala—an evening dedicated to celebrating […]

Support the Mission of Opening Doors

The women in our programs come from diverse backgrounds, with lived experiences including domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health challenges, and generational poverty. At Opening Doors, we treat each woman and child with dignity, offering personalized, comprehensive case management. Through this process, women are empowered to realize their full potential by setting achievable goals, gaining employment support, receiving life skills training, and participating in financial literacy programs, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, and health care services. We also provide access to essential resources like food and clothing, helping them move toward stable, independent living.

Sign Up for Email Newsletter

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter and occasional updates to stay informed about the latest news, inspiring stories, and impactful initiatives at Opening Doors!

Newsletter Signup

Receive our monthly e-newsletter and occasional updates about what is going on with Opening Doors.

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
3 days ago

FREE Event on Thursday June 5th- Join Opening Doors as we celebrate 25 years of empowering women and children in our community!

We’re marking this incredible milestone with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in partnership with the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce — and you’re part of the story.

Celebrate our dedicated staff, incredible community partners, and the thousands of lives transformed over the years.
Learn about our vision for the next 25 years of hope, housing, and healing.
Lunch will be available for purchase, and guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour of Maria House, one of the heartbeats of our mission.

📍 Location: Maria House, 1561 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA
📅 Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
... See MoreSee Less

FREE Event on Thursday June 5th- Join Opening Doors as we celebrate 25 years of empowering women and children in our community!

We’re marking this incredible milestone with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in partnership with the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce — and you’re part of the story.

Celebrate our dedicated staff, incredible community partners, and the thousands of lives transformed over the years.
Learn about our vision for the next 25 years of hope, housing, and healing.
Lunch will be available for purchase, and guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour of Maria House, one of the heartbeats of our mission.

📍 Location: Maria House, 1561 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA
📅 Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
FREE Event on Thursday June 5th- Join Opening Doors as we celebrate 25 years of empowering women and children in our community!

We’re marking this incredible milestone with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in partnership with the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce — and you’re part of the story.

Celebrate our dedicated staff, incredible community partners, and the thousands of lives transformed over the years.
Learn about our vision for the next 25 years of hope, housing, and healing.
Lunch will be available for purchase, and guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour of Maria House, one of the heartbeats of our mission.

📍 Location: Maria House, 1561 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA
📅 Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
🙏🏡 Grateful for Community Champions: Melissa Schmitt Supports Opening Doors

We’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Melissa Schmitt of New Eagle Wealth Management for her unwavering support and advocacy for our mission. Yesterday, Melissa took the time to join us for an updated tour of our program and homes, as well as discussing our vision for the future of Opening Doors.

It’s community champions like Melissa who make our work possible, and we truly couldn’t do it without the support of individuals and organizations in our community who share our commitment to making a difference.

Thank you, Melissa, for your continued support and belief in our mission. Together, we can create lasting change and build brighter futures!

#OpeningDoorsDBQ #CommunityChampions #MelissaSchmitt #SupportingOurMission #StrongerTogether
A Fond Farewell to Lauren Krapfl 💗

This week, we shared an emotional goodbye as we wished our beloved Case Manager, Lauren Krapfl, all the best on her next professional adventure and exciting new chapter.

Lauren began her journey with Opening Doors as a field student in January 2021 during her senior year at Loras College. Her passion and dedication quickly stood out, and she was soon hired as a part-time Program Advocate. After earning her Master of Social Work from Clarke University in May 2023, she was promoted to a full-time Case Manager, working closely with our Emergency Stay residents and the amazing volunteers who support our mission.

Lauren brought heart, joy, and unwavering commitment to every role she stepped into. From walking alongside women in their journeys to empowering volunteers to engage meaningfully with our work, she truly embodied the mission of Opening Doors.

Thank you, Lauren, for the compassion, hard work, and warmth you brought to the shelter every single day. You will be deeply missed!

With the help of both the Teresa Shelter and Maria House I know I can do anything if I just stay positive and put my mind to it. With you having “Open Doors” there is hope for everyone who enters the programs.