1954 – Open Door Mission founded as a downtown soup kitchen on Franklin Street.   The original funding came from 13 people who each donated $75.00 a month.

Bob and Emilia Finnegan

1966 – The Turner Charitable Foundation donated the former Fullerton Elementary School, built in 1904, to the Mission. The Mission still operates all of its programs from the campus at 5803 Harrisburg, in Houston’s East End.   

1976 – A new, 3200 square foot Chapel, seating over 250, was built for daily classes and nightly chapel services.

1991 – The Mission added a new convalescent care center offering homeless men a safe, secure place to recuperate from accidents, surgery and illnesses. We also added a dining room, kitchen, laundry and shower facility.

1993 – The Alan and Ann Craft Doorway Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program, an intensive 9-month program designed to rehabilitate drug and alcohol addicted men, was added.

1995 – The Mission launched the Community Service Program, to help the Mission’s residents build self-esteem through helping others with volunteer work at area nonprofits and community improvement projects.  In 2008, almost before Hurricane Ike had abated, Mission residents were helping neighbors by sawing fallen trees, removing debris and passing out bottled water, food and other supplies.

1999 – The Alan and Ann Craft DoorWay Drug Alcohol Recovery Program was expanded, with a new 56-bed center.   The Mission also began Biofeedback Therapy for recovering “crack” cocaine addicts.  In a 2005 article published in The Journal of Neurotherapy, specifically about Open Door Mission’s Biofeedback program,the researchers concluded that, “…the combination of electroencephalographic operating conditioning (EEG-OC) and faith-based programs is effective in the treatment of crack-cocaine addiction.”

2004 – The Mission completed and dedicated the newly renovated Russell M. Scott, JR., M.D. Convalescent Care Center.

2005 – The installation of a new air conditioning system to all five Mission dormitories was completed. The Mission also participated in the massive relief effort in the wakes of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, acting as a distribution center for food, clothes and critical relief supplies.

2007 – Open Door Mission received the East End Chamber of Commerce Good Neighbor Award.

2008 –

1. The Mission earned the Better Business Bureau “Award for Excellence Winner of Distinction” – one of only five Greater Houston/Harris County nonprofits so honored.
2. Open Door Mission was also one of only three Humana Houston Benefits nonprofit finalists in the Greater Houston area.
3. The Mission also earned the Mayor’s Challenge Grant on behalf of the Houston Read Commission – one of only twenty nonprofits selected in the Greater Houston Area.
4. In mid-July, broke ground on a $1+ million Kitchen Transformation Project. We designed the project to avoid disruption, during all phases of construction, of the over 14,000 meals we serve each month. This aspect of project's design also avoids the expenses of off-site meal preparation and delivery.
5. When Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast in September, Open Door Mission residents hit the streets, helping saw fallen trees, pick up debris, clear streets and drains and hand out bottled water, food and supplies to the Mission’s residents.

2009 – In February, we completed Phase One of a $1.5 million capital renovation project with the completion of our new kitchen.  By May, Phase Two was completed - a new fitness center, meeting room and handicap-accessible restrooms and completely renovated dining room and Education Center.  On May 13, the opening of the kitchen/dining complex was commemorated with a Kitchen Dedication Celebration & Ringing of the Bell.