Color rendering produced by Capital Architects of planned 
look of St. Elizabeth House upon completion of renovations.                   

RENOVATION PLANS—MAY 2010

Mercy Housing — An Overview
Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. was founded by the Sisters of Mercy to purchase and operate St. Elizabeth House, a 32,000 square foot facility with 58 tenants and a soup kitchen delivering over 250 meals a day to neighbors, when potential condominium development threatened the preservation of affordable housing. Mercy now operates a variety programs throughout Greater Hartford with the goal to end homelessness.

St. Elizabeth House: Retaining Wall Out and Historical Front Lawn In
The first phase of renovations at St. Elizabeth House are underway. Hastened by a deteriorating four foot high retaining wall that fronts Main Street, Hartford, plans call for a sloping lawn, handicapped accessible access and new landscaping features.

Elevator and Electrical Upgrade Planned for Phase II
The elevator built in the 1920s for St. Elizabeth House became inoperable in 2008, forcing residents who cannot traverse the stairs to be housed on the first floor. Plans are to start constructing a new code compliant elevator this summer.

St. Elizabeth House both a National Historic Landmark and Residence of Henry Barnard— First US Commissioner of Education
St. Elizabeth House was the family residence of Henry Barnard in 1807 and selected as a National Historic Landmark. After Barnard’s death in 1900, the home was purchased by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit and expanded to include a dormitory for working women. It was used by Center City Churches and then acquired by the Sisters of Mercy, through its sponsored ministry, Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation.

Fundraising Leadership in Process
While construction is underway, Mercy anticipates that at least $2 million in additional funding needs to be raised to meet an overall goal of $5.5 million. Atty. Catherine Mohan, a partner at McCarter and English, and Mr. Patrick Ryan, the principal at Ryan Marketing, have agreed to lead the fundraising effort at Mercy. They are in the process of securing a team of thirty volunteers to assist in a final fundraising push anticipated to take 18 months.