February 4, 2010
Contact: Sue Murphy Patricia McKeon
Liberty Bank Foundation Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp.
(860) 638-2959 (860) 808-2040
LIBERTY BANK FOUNDATION DONATES $4,000
to Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp.
HARTFORD, CT— The Liberty Bank Foundation has awarded a $4,000 grant to Mercy Housing & Shelter to enhance the organization's fundraising capacity.
“Liberty Bank has been a true friend to Mercy Housing and Shelter,” said Sister Patricia McKeon, executive director of Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. “Over the years Liberty Bank has contributed toward a variety of projects at Shepherd Home in Middletown that have helped the residents on their journey out of homelessness to permanent housing. Expanding our fundraising capacity expands our capacity to support our clients in their struggles. “
“In these difficult economic times, non-profit organizations like Mercy are actively seeking out new ways to raise the revenue they need to operate,” said Sue Murphy, executive director of the Liberty Bank Foundation. “This grant will help to fund research and outreach to build new funding streams for the important work that Mercy does to provide housing and services for people who are homeless.”
Since its inception in 1997, the Liberty Bank Foundation has provided over $5.5 million in grants to non-profit organizations within Liberty Bank’s market area. The foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for people of low or moderate income by investing in the areas of preventive programming for children and families, affordable housing, and non-profit capacity building. In addition, the foundation is providing support to address basic human needs during these difficult economic times. Along with its grant making, the foundation strives to foster the convening and collaboration of non-profits, funders, business, and government to address community issues.
Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. offers a variety of solutions to move individuals from homeless to housing in Middlesex and Hartford Counties, including transitional housing programs such as Shepherd Home in Middletown; supervised residences for persons with multiple and/or co-occurring disabilities; permanent supportive housing at scattered-site apartments; emergency housing for individuals with HIV/AIDS; flexible financial assistance and supportive services to prevent homelessness and rapidly re-house eligible individuals who do become homeless; and basic needs programs for individuals and families. Mercy’s programs reached 5,500 persons and moved 244 persons into permanent housing in the last program year.
Established in 1825, Liberty Bank is Connecticut’s oldest mutual bank, with $3 billion in assets and 37 banking offices throughout the central, eastern, and shoreline areas of the state. As a full-service financial institution, it offers consumer and commercial banking, home mortgages, insurance, and investment services. Rated outstanding by federal regulators on its community reinvestment efforts, Liberty maintains a longstanding commitment to superior personal service and unparalleled community involvement.
July 22, 2009
Urgent: Mercy Seeks Donations of Toiletries for Homeless Adults & Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Suzan Bibisi
July 22, 2009 (860) 808-2036/sbibisi@mercyhousingct.org
Urgent: Mercy Seeks Donations of Toiletries for Homeless Adults & Families
HARTFORD – Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. is seeking donations of toothbrushes and trial-size soap, shampoo, tooth paste and deodorant for clients of its Friendship Center which offers meals, showers, medical care and referrals for adults and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
An increase in visitors to the Friendship Center, located in St. Elizabeth House at 118 Main St., has depleted the supply of toiletry donations more quickly than expected. Typically, donors have collected unused toiletries they received from hotels while traveling and free promotional samples of products. Mercy requests that if donors have small quantities of those personal grooming products now, drop them off as soon as possible rather than wait to stockpile a large supply.
Mercy can only accept unopened products. Please drop off donations to 118 Main St. For more information, call (860) 808-2036.Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. offers six programs in Hartford, Middlesex and Tolland counties that provide permanent, temporary and emergency housing and support services to help adults and families return to homes of their own and maintain their independence.
Feb. 17, 2009
Flatbread Pizza Cuts Mercy a Piece of the Pie
Read more...
Oct. 6, 2008
 Housing Takes the Cake
A couple of parties along upper Main Street coincidentally shared housing themes Saturday, with one attracting star power that will ultimately benefit the homeless, and the other attracting a theatrical interpretation of trailer living.
Sept. 28, 2008
Helping the Homeless A Must for 'Yes Man' Charles Grodin
The average person might best remember actor Charles Grodin from his starring roles in "The Heartbreak Kid" (the original in 1972), the two "Beethoven" movies featuring a St. Bernard, "Heaven Can Wait" and "Rosemary's Baby."
Mercy Miracle
Mercy Client Earns GED, and Keys to Own Home
A chronically homeless middle-aged man with physical and emotional issues was unable to work and seemed incapable of helping himself when he arrived at a Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. transitional housing facility five years ago.
He has since received medical treatment, earned his GED, was trained for a job and now is working and lives in his own apartment. A case worker (partially funded by an Aetna Foundation grant) at the Mercy facility helped the man receive medical and mental health care, followed by guidance in setting and reaching goals.
Once he was on medication and recovered from eye surgery, a case worker helped him enroll in GED classes. After earning his high school diploma, a case worker, known at Mercy as a “recovery specialist,” referred him to a job training program. He was hired to work and was given the keys to his own apartment under a state program called Next Steps that Mercy administers.
The recovery specialist was partially funded by Aetna Foundation’s grant, Addressing Disparities in Health and Mental Health Services, to give homeless people equal access to medical and mental health services.
Homeless people, and particularly homeless people who are minorities, typically are unable to gain access to health care. The recovery specialist provides clients with medical, educational and job referrals and access to health care. The specialist also helps clients adhere to medication and treatment regimes, provide life-skills training and prepare clients to live on their own.
“Aetna’s funding is a generous and life-affirming commitment to helping overcome
the causes and impact of homelessness,” said Sister Patricia McKeon, executive director of Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp. “The recovery model we use – where a recovery special helps clients set and meet goals - is the best one we’ve found to help people become independent.”
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