As a UW based program, The Doorway Project is a practicum site that hosts graduate students. Included are the reflections of past interns Doorway has worked with.

During my time at “The Doorway Project,” I was able to engage with youth experiencing homelessness in the University District and strategically plan ways to support young adults living on the streets of Seattle. Working with young adults as a new resident of Seattle gave me an eye-opening experience into the mental health and poverty concerns that are not always discussed in mainstream society in Seattle. It was also great to be a part of a team of service providers within the University District that collectively worked very hard to support individuals experiencing homelessness to obtain housing, employment, mental health services, and social support.

The Doorway Project does something I have wanted to see more organizations do in the past— center the voices of the people it serves. In practice, it is the simplest thing in the world. Shouldn’t the people we serve have a say in how the service is provided? But, considering that I have worked at several service organizations and this is the first time I have run into this, it seems to be pretty revolutionary. Spending time with the YAB and TAY groups was incredible and it was so clear how much buy-in the participants have. They are active, engaged, and feel comfortable talking about their feelings and experiences. While the clinical and organizational experience I have gotten during my internship has been great, the value of centering client voices is something I am going to carry with me forever.