MERCY HOUSING & SHELTER CORPORATION

ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE - OFFERS MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS WITHIN A SINGLE SITE AT 118 MAIN STREET IN HARTFORD, INCLUDING 1) TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR 10 ADULTS BEING DISCHARGED FROM MENTAL HEALTH, RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES OR OTHERWISE HOMELESS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES. CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ENABLE THEM TO RETURN TO INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY. 2) SHORT TERM HOUSING FOR 8 ADULTS ON PROBATION. THE GOAL IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION TO HOMELESSNESS AND HELP PEOPLE FIND STABLE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY 3) SHORT-TERM HOUSING TO 22 WOMEN WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS WHILE THEY RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELLING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS BASIC NEEDS, CASE MANAGEMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYMENT SEARCH. 4) HOUSING AND INTENSIVE SERVICES FOR 9 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND CO-OCCURRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONCERNS WHILE WORKING TO OBTAIN PERMANENT, MORE INDEPENDENT HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL RESIDENTS OF ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE RECEIVE DAILY MEALS, A PRIVATE ROOM, AND ASSISTANCE WITH ONLINE JOB SEARCHES, APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEWING, RESUME WRITING, AND COMPUTER SKILLS, AS WELL AS BASIC TRANSPORTATION, AND NETWORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES. LAST YEAR, 179 CLIENTS WERE HOUSED AT ST. ELIZABETH HOUSE AND 8 NEW RESIDENTIAL BEDS WERE ADDED FOR ADULTS ON PROBATION.

DIVERSION AND RAPID REHOUSING LAST YEAR, 151 CLIENTS WERE SERVED IN RAPID REHOUSING AND 729 THROUGH HARTFORD-BASED SHELTER DIVERSION PROGRAMMING. SHELTER DIVERSION PROGRAM- PREVENTS HOMELESSNESS AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM BY HELPING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS TO IDENTIFY IMMEDIATE ALTERNATIVE HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS AND, IF NECESSARY, CONNECTING THEM WITH SERVICES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM RETURN TO PERMANENT HOUSING. MERCY PROVIDES THESE SERVICES FOR BOTH THE GREATER HARTFORD AND MERIDEN-MIDDLESEX-WALLINGFORD COORDINATED ACCESS NETWORK (CAN), WITH A SATELLITE OFFICE IN PORTLAND, CT. AS PART OF MERCY'S SHELTER DIVERSION SERVICES, THE COORDINATED ENTRY HUB IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE WALK-IN ACCESS TO CAN APPOINTMENTS; INCREASE POSITIVE DIVERSION OUTCOMES FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS; AND INCREASE LOCAL CAPACITY TO FIELD FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES FROM HOUSEHOLDS POST-CAN APPOINTMENT, THEREBY, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DUPLICATE CALLS FOR HOMELESS SERVICES TO OUR STATE'S 211 SYSTEM. ADDED LAST YEAR, THE HUB BRINGS AN ADDITIONAL 2,500 CLIENTS THROUGH 118 MAIN STREET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. RAPID RE HOUSING (RRH) - PROVIDES SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN COMMUNITY APARTMENTS PAIRED WITH INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME TO 25 INDIVIDUALS AND 4 FAMILIES. THE GOALS ARE TO HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN HOUSING QUICKLY, INCREASE SELF- SUFFICIENCY, AND STAY HOUSED. HOUSING COORDINATION FOR JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS - MERCY PROVIDES DIVERSION, HOUSING COORDINATION, RAPID REHOUSING SERVICES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 20 CLIENTS REFERRED TO US BY COURT SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION WHO ARE ON PROBATION, PRE-TRIAL OR END OF SENTENCE. THE GOAL IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION TO HOMELESSNESS FOR JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS. HOMELESS OUTREACH - OUTREACH STAFF ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING STREET HOMELESSNESS IN ACCESSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND IN FINDING AND SUSTAINING STABLE, SAFE, PERMANENT HOUSING.