What started as a small soup kitchen over 20 years ago is now a huge resource for Lubbock’s homeless community. Formerly known as “Carpenter’s Church” the homeless shelter, church and resource center was recently renamed to “Open Door”.
Director of Development, Jocelyn Wiebe said love is at the root of everything they are providing for the homeless community.
“We do it all through our community center which is opened throughout the day as a shelter, people can have access to mail, phones, we can get them identification, birth certificates, we provide classes throughout the day, art or parenting classes, anger management,” Wiebe said.
Open Door is also gearing up to officially open their wellness clinic where they will provide treatment for the people living in their homes, and eventually try to provide healthcare for anyone who needs it.
“When people are homeless, their access to primary healthcare is almost non-existent, it’s common for people on the streets to use the emergency room which is very expensive and not really set up for primary care,” Wiebe said.
James Dehart said he has been in and out of homelessness for a couple years and that the Open Door was a light in the darkness for him. Putting his knack for fixing things to good use, Dehart has been working on building a prayer garden.
“I got out of prison almost two years ago and I didn’t have anyone, anywhere, I walked in here on a Wednesday night, and everything started looking up from there,” Dehart said.