Mission Statement
Mercy Housing and Shelter, a non-profit organization sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, responds to the needs of those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing them with food, housing, shelter, education, and support services in an atmosphere that respects each person. Mercy Housing and Shelter advocates on behalf of individuals while challenging injustice in social systems.
Description
Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation (MHSC), founded in 1983 by the Connecticut Sisters of Mercy, is a non-profit organization which responds to the needs of those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing them with food, housing, shelter, education, and support services in an atmosphere that respects each person. MHSC advocates on behalf of individuals while challenging injustice in social systems. Mercy Housing has developed programs that address the full course of socio-economic problems a community faces. The programs are designed to render assistance where needed and provide permanent solutions where possible. Out of four facilities, three in Hartford, one in Middletown, five MHSC service divisions currently meet the needs of over four thousand five hundred unduplicated persons each year. These are individuals and families who are homeless and/or at risk of homelessness; persons with chronic mental illness and/or substance abuse problems and/or HIV/AIDS; and children at risk. Nearly all persons served have low or very low incomes. Clients include English and non-English speaking individuals (MHSC employees speak six languages); men, women and children; representatives of a wide range of different cultures; residents of Hartford, Tolland and Middlesex counties and parts of Litchfield, New London, and Winham counties (the Hartford MSA); and persons with a wide variety of physical and other disabilities. Mercy services include: (1) St. Elizabeth House, consisting of a 24-bed Emergency Shelter serving adult men and women, and, a 42-bed Transitional Living Program for homeless adults. (2) Neighborhood Services including the Friendship Center Day Shelter serving men, women and children six days a week; the Friendship Center Soup Kitchen daily serving more than 200 people of all ages two meals a day, six days a week; and, a Family Services program, providing supportive housing and intensive case management for ten families at scattered sites; as well as education, social, psychological, medical and other services for families with children that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. (3) Middletown Residential Services including a 70-bed Transitional Living Program for homeless adults and intensive support services for ten PILOTS permanent housing rental units for individuals/families. (4) Supportive Housing Services including a 9-bed group home for homeless men and women who are symptomatic with an HIV disease, and who have a history of substance abuse and/or mental illness, community scattered-site supportive housing for over 50 individuals and families who are homeless and who have HIV/AIDS and another disability such as chronic mental illness or chronic substance abuse, and 10 placements in a short-term emergency housing program for people with HIV/AIDS. (5) Mental Health Services including scattered site supportive housing for 30 individuals of the Greater Hartford area who have psychiatric disabilities; scattered site rental units with support services for twenty homeless people who are more challenging to place; and a 5-bed Community Respite Services program for men and women with psychiatric disabilities. MHSC Quick Facts ï ¾ Serves over 4,500 unduplicated clients per year. ï ¾ Serves people in 6 Connecticut counties. ï ¾ Provides over 50,000 bed nights per year. ï ¾ Delivers over 240,000 meals per year. ï ¾ Delivers supportive services to individuals and families placed in over 125 scattered-site housing units ï ¾ 90+ employees ï ¾ Operates out of 4 facilities (three in Hartford, one in Middletown)
