Mission and History

For nearly a century, we’ve been serving Floyd and the surrounding counties. Though our programs have evolved over the years, our core mission has stayed the same: to care for the abused and neglected children of Northwest Georgia and help them reach their full potential to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

Open Door Home (formerly the Open Door Children’s Home) originally opened in 1927 as a temporary shelter for children whose parents were jailed for alcohol-related crimes during Prohibition. In 1929, the Children’s Home moved to a larger building and officially became a permanent placement for children in need. In 1936, the Home officially partnered with the city of Rome, Floyd County, and the federal government.

For 60 years, the Open Door Children’s Home was only able to house girls and young boys in its single facility. In 2000, ODH board members Louise and Elwood Hunt partnered with the Home to create a safe place for teenaged boys, and the Louise Hunt Home for Boys was built.