Doorways Partnership with SURE Housing Initiative Assists People Living with HIV

For the past four years, Doorways in St. Louis has participated in the SURE Housing Initiative, a national research project exploring how stable housing improves the health and well-being of people living with HIV.

Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau, the initiative brought together 10 organizations across the country to study the impact of quickly connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with permanent housing and supportive services.

The results at Doorways speak for themselves.

During the project, 54 individuals enrolled in the program, and 48 secured permanent housing. Today, 72 percent remain stably housed without ongoing financial assistance, proof that the right support at the right time creates lasting independence.

The initiative also reinforced an important lesson: participants achieved better outcomes when one dedicated staff member guided them throughout their journey, building trust and providing consistent support every step of the way.

Earlier this year, representatives from all 10 participating organizations gathered in Washington, D.C., to share findings and reflect on the project’s impact. During the closing session, attendees were asked to complete the sentence, “Three years ago, I never would have …”

For Brenda Malone, Doorways’ vice president of housing, the answer captured the significance of the work. “I didn’t realize that while this was a research study with 10 agencies across the country, we were going to change the world,” she said, “and we did.”

The SURE Housing Initiative will help shape future housing programs for people living with HIV nationwide. That success is a testament to the dedication of the Doorways team, including Brenda Malone, Abby Doyle, who served as SURE case canager, and Mikayla Niethe, participant evaluator.

At Doorways, we’ve long believed that housing is healthcare. The success of the SURE Housing Initiative provides powerful evidence that when people have a safe, stable place to call home, they can improve their health, regain their independence, and build brighter futures.