Mercy Health System - House of Mercy Homeless Center

What is it?

The House of Mercy is a 25-bed homeless center that provides homeless families with short-term emergency shelter, clothing, and food, as well as access to housing, jobs, and child care resources. The House of Mercy assesses the needs of each individual and family, obtains appropriate referrals and services, and designs an action plan aimed at achieving more stable housing. A collaborative project that is the result of widespread community input, the Center is one of few homeless centers in the United States operated by a health system and mostly staffed by health system volunteers. Each resident receives case management to help assess, address, and ultimately solve the underlying causes of the resident’s current homelessness.

Who is it for?

Homeless families and single women of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.

Why do they do it?

The House of Mercy was created after Mercy Health System emergency department physicians reported seeing more and more patients reporting the family car as their primary residence. In addition, a survey published in June 1996 by the City of Janesville and City of Beloit Community Development Departments found that, at any one time during a two-week period, 103 individuals were homeless. The goal of the House of Mercy is to serve its clients’ immediate and long-term needs.

Impact

The House of Mercy has sheltered approximately 5,000 individuals since its inception in 1996.

Contact: Barbra Bortner
Vice President, Marketing and Public Relations
Telephone: 608-743-2052
E-mail: bbortner@mhsjvl.org