Mom with kids - Opening Doors

Empowering Women, Changing Live

Celebrating 25 years of service in Dubuque, 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.

NEED SHELTER? Call (563) 690-0086

If you, a friend, or loved one are facing a domestic violence situation, please contact the Dubuque YMCA Victim Services Shelter. While Maria House and Teresa Shelter are private property, our shelters cannot guarantee the safety of women fleeing domestic violence and in immediate danger.

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. Here, our team provides mentoring and connects women to services that help them succeed. We’ve reached 5000+ women and counting.  Now, as we look ahead to the next 25 years – Opening Doors is embarking upon a new phase of growth. Because we are a trusted community resource with high impact results, we have outgrown our current space. Last year alone, we were forced to turn away nearly 600 women and their children due to capacity limitations.

Opening Doors Teresa Shelter

Teresa Shelter

Teresa Shelter offers emergency and extended stay programs.

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Opening Doors Maria House

Maria House

Maria House offers transitional housing for up to two years.

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Opening Doors Francis House

Francis Apartments

Francis Apartments offers income-based affordable housing with support services.

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Upcoming Events

Trivia Night
“May the Luck Be With You”
Date: Thursday, February 27
Location: Grand River Center, Dubuque

GET TICKETS

Filling Your Cup
Thursday June 26, 2025
7am at The Hotel Julien
Jasmine Brett Stringer is a renowned keynote speaker, award-winning author of Seize Your Life: How to Carpe Diem Every Day, on-air TV personality, and the host of the podcast and lifestyle blog Carpe Diem with Jasmine.

SUPPORT THE MISSION OF OPENING DOORS

Opening Doors offers more than just a place to sleep—we provide women with the opportunity to reclaim their power and become self-sufficient. Since 2000, we have served over 6,000 homeless women and children in Dubuque.

The challenges we address at Opening Doors are among the most difficult in breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. However, our programs are making a significant impact in the community and in the lives of hundreds of women each year. More than half of the women who come through our doors progress through our programs and move onto paths of purpose, leading to a higher quality of life.

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Being here has shown me how to fall in love with my life and who I am as a person.  I have many goals still to reach, and a lot of work to do toward them, but now I know I can do it.

—Teresa Shelter Resident

Proud to be a United Way Agency!

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