Dayton, Ohio: Opening Doors to the Homeless (DOORS), the collaboration among representatives from Eastco, PLACES, the Samaritan Homeless Clinic, CADAS, The Other Place, and the Salvation Army Booth House, was awarded the 2009 Health Promotion Award by the Wright State University’s Center for Healthy Communities. Holly Price, Eastco’s Employment Specialist has worked with DOORS for the last four years. The DOORS program utilizes Eastco to match homeless individuals with jobs so they may achieve greater stability and a higher quality of life. Price has touched many lives in her tenure with Eastco. Recently referred through DOORS, a client who was homeless for the last six years met Price. She matched him with counseling and job development services. After jumping from shelter to shelter for many years, the stability of a full time job and the support offered through Eastco has him thankful for the benefits of second chance. Although he only started the program in May, last week he secured his first apartment in six years.

Price says that stories like this make her job worthwhile. Referring to this particular client, Price says that he is “really changing his life around and wanting to do better.” She argues that the key ingredient for success is “the people. The ones who really want to succeed in the DOORS program will.”

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