Christmas at Mercy - Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation

Christmas at Mercy
February 2014
New Program in Middletown to End
Homelessness
After twenty-six years helping homeless
individuals at Shepherd Home in Middletown,
Mercy is looking to the future and keeping our
focus on eradiating homelessness by providing
permanent supportive housing in Middletown.
Thank you to all of the companies, organizations, churches and individuals that donated
gifts to our clients and their children last Christmas.
Your generosity is appreciated!
Our Current Needs
Mercy’s single greatest need continues to be financial. With your financial contribution, you are investing in the future of
people’s lives and together we can make homelessness history.
With these frigid temperatures, cold weather clothing is our top need right now. Items we need are:
 Gloves, Hats, New Thermal Underwear, New or Freshly Laundered Coats, Boots, and New Socks
 Food to fill our emergency food pantry especially: rice, beans, tuna fish and any other nonperishable
foods
 Linens: New Twin sheets, Blankets, Towels
 Laundry Detergent
For more information about Mercy visit: www.mercyhousingct.org or call (860) 808-2055
Your contribution invests in the future of people’s lives!
Six months ago, Mercy Housing and Shelter
requested a meeting with Daniel Drew, the
Mayor of Middletown, to discuss the future of
the Transitional Living Program at Shepherd
Home. The agency had evaluated the needs of
the individuals being served at Shepherd Home
and assessed the physical structure of the
building and came to the conclusion that our
clients, especially chronically homeless
individuals, would benefit from stable housing in
the community.
Located on the grounds of Connecticut Valley
Hospital, Shepherd Home’s building is owned by
Governor William O’Neil cuts the ribbon during a 1988
the State of Connecticut and leased to the City of
Middletown. The building is more than 100 years old. ceremony for the opening of Shepherd Home.
It served Middletown’s homeless for twenty-six years
in addition to its original function as a dormitory for student nurses at Connecticut Valley Hospital. The building
is tired.
In a first of its kind collaboration, Mercy met with the City of Middletown, HUD Field Office, State of
Connecticut Department of Housing, the Balance of State Steering Committee, State of Connecticut Department
of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Connecticut Valley Hospital, the Middlesex County Coalition on Housing
& Homelessness, business & community leaders, funders, and with shelter providers in the Middletown
community. The proposal discussed was the conversion of Shepherd Home from a transitional living program to a
supportive housing program with scattered site units in the community. Mayor Daniel Drew, the City of
Middletown and everyone involved were extremely supportive of Mercy’s ambitious plan.
So, Mercy took a leap of faith and began working with landlords in Middlesex County to find apartments for the
nearly 50 people residing at Shepherd Home. Working with residents, our Case Managers assisted each one in
finding employment, or, for those unable to work, getting approved for disability and/or social security
benefits.
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Mercy Housing
and Shelter
Corporation
Administrative Offices
211 Wethersfield Avenue
Hartford, CT 06114
Phone: (860) 808-2055
Board of Trustees
Bradley Venne, Chair
Brian Rich, Vice Chair
Gene Arnold
Charles Brooks
Steven Cote
Thomas Daily
Sister Eileen Dooling
Sister Claire Filippone
Richard Gentile
Dennis Gilligan
Melissa Gran
Claudette Labbe
Patricia McKinley
Ira Mozille
Austin Perkins
Shyamala Raman
Kellyanna Thompson
Kathleen Voelker
Sister Patricia McKeon,
Executive Director
Mission
Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation
provides housing assistance and
supportive services to persons who are
homeless or at risk of becoming
homeless. Mercy works to empower its
clients to become independent, so they
may live and work with dignity and
respect. Mercy seeks to end
homelessness by advocating for
changes in the social systems that
perpetuate homelessness. Mercy
welcomes and serves all in need in the
tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, who
founded the organization in 1983.
For Information about Mercy:
Contact The Development Office at:
(860) 808-2036
www.mercyhousingct.org
(A Home for Everyone Continued…)
We worked hard to find just the right
apartment, and turned over every
stone to find security deposit
programs that would work for our
clients in Middletown.
With the help of the city and State
Representatives we were able to find
rental assistance certificates for
many of the residents at Shepherd
Home. Once an apartment was
found, Mercy partnered with
numerous organizations to help each
resident settle into their new homes with food, bedding, housewares for
their kitchen, and furniture. Just enough to start them off right in their
new home.
“We knew this was going to be a challenge. Our staff was amazing as
they worked with each resident to find an apartment. They helped
them navigate through the resources available to them, and then made
sure they had what they needed to move into their apartment. I am
extremely proud of our staff,” said Dave Martineau, Director of Program
at Mercy Housing and Shelter.
By January of this year, just six months since our first meeting to
propose this transition, Mercy had successfully moved more than 40
adults into their new homes. This was an unprecedented effort that
could not have happened without the support of the City of Middletown,
Mayor Drew, and all of the organizations who came together to
understand the needs of homeless individuals and the economic impact
on the city.
As one former Shepherd Home Resident said about her new apartment:
“I can’t believe I’m in my own apartment, I pinch myself sometimes to
make sure it’s not a dream. I’m so grateful for what I have now.”
The Friendship Center: Serving More Than Food
Thank You
Gala Live and Silent Auction Donors
Steve Adams Fine Art
Riccardo & Lisa Ambrogio
Am. Clock & Watch Museum
Anderson Jewelers
Animal Impressions
Gene Arnold
Art of Touch Massage
Back9Network
Bank of America
Barteca Resturant Group
Marion Berard
Berlin Batting Cages,Inc.
Estelle Berube
Bk & Co.
Boston Red Sox
Cabela's
Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama
Carbone's Restaurant
Luis Castanho & Pasta Vita
Center Framing and Art
Central Optica
Charter Oak Cultural Center
Chilis Grill and Bar
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Citizens Bank
Connecticut Science Center
The Corner Pug
Crazy Bruce's Liquors
CT Beverage Mart
Eves Addiction
Excel Fitness, LLC
Brian Exner
Fernwood Restaurant
The Ferris Group
Fiduciary Investment Advisors
Francesco's Ristorante
Geno's Group
Richard Gentile
Glastonbury Jewelers
Gouveia Vineyards
Green Mountain Coffee
Hartford Restaurant Group
Hartford Stage
Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Michael Herwood
Hill-Stead Museum
Holy Family Retreat Center
Hotel Viking, Newport
Hutchings, Carol
Joey Garlic's
Steve Johnson
Jon Bonet for Galderma
JW Marriott Washington DC
Ines Kallmeyer
Karol Opticians
Kenneth Cole Productions
LA Fitness
Paul & Claudette Labbe
Congressman John Larson
Kathy Lilley
Lisa B's Salon and Spa
Lux Bond & Green
Manchester Country Club
Marriott Hartford Downtown
Matthew Phillips Hair Salon
Max Restaurant Group
McCarter & English, LLP
Patricia McKinley
Mercy Center in Madison
Metro Bis and Metro Express
Middlesex Fruitery, Inc.
The Mill Museum
Modern Edge Salon
Catherine Mohan
The Mohegan Tribe
Moscarillo's Garden Shoppe
My Secret Garden
Mystic Seaport
New Britain Museum of Art
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Julie Niggebrugge
Nuveen Investments
The Open Hearth Association
Passion Food Hospitality
Paul Pendergast
Penzey's Spices
Pfau's Hardware
Prossage Wellness
Residence Inn by Marriott-Htfd
Roncari Express Valet Parking
Samuel Adams
Kenneth & Ann Sarpu
Service Press
Shaded Soul Band
Shairon's Salon
Shapiro Family Dentistry, LLC
Side Walk Cafe
Sight
Ski Mount Southington
Sodexo Food Service
Sofia's Brick Oven Pizzeria
The Spa at Norwich Inn
Stackpole Moore & Tryon’s
Stew Leonards
Stone Age Rock Gym
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
Tabitha's Collectibles
Barbara Taylor & Brian Czak
TheaterWorks
The Tobacco Shop
Michael Tomasso
Travelers
I first met “Lidia” in The Friendship Center eating lunch in January 2012. Lidia is a single mother of four
children, who was displaced from her home due to domestic violence. She was staying at a city shelter, which
did not offer the assistance she needed to find an apartment. She became discouraged due to the long waiting
list for housing. I began meeting with her when she came for lunch each week in the Friendship Center. It was
during these lunches that she shared with me the details of her situation and her hopes and dreams for her and
her children. I started to help her with the time consuming task of filling out several housing applications.
Six months later, Lidia was informed that one of her
applications was accepted. I helped her to connect
with resources she needed such as mental health
treatment, a food pantry, and clothing banks.
Turgeon Jewelers
Carolyn Venne
Venus Nail Spa
Veterans Memorial Ice Skating
Vito's By the Park
Cathleen Voelker
Wadsworth Atheneum
Matthew J. Wagner Fine
Photography
Wal-Mart Foundation
West Hartford Continuing Ed.
West Hartford Leisure Dept.
Whitfield's on Guilford Green
Willimantic Brewing Company
The Wise Old Dog
Wood-n-Tap
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman
Zanger Company
Save The Date: Saturday, November 8, 2014
20th Annual Dreams Can Come True Gala
Committed 2014 Gala Sponsors Include:
Strategic Staffing Solutions
Hoffman Auto Group
For More Information Call 860-808-2036
By Rubi Alegria, Family Case Manager
Mercy Community Health
In June of 2013, Lidia once again returned to the
Friendship Center seeking assistance. She informed
me that her boyfriend, who had been incarcerated
for domestic violence against her, had been released
from jail. He found out where she was living and
eventually was the cause for her to lose her
apartment and any security that she had.
I found a shelter for her and her children while we
worked to find an apartment and help her get back
on her feet. We reconnected her with mental health
services and an educational training program that
would help her to achieve one of her dreams – a CNA
certification. Because of her history with domestic
violence I advocated for Lidia to take priority in a safe permanent housing program for which she had applied to
last year. Four months later, Lidia and her children were able to leave the shelter and move into a safe
permanent housing apartment with 24 hour surveillance and on-site clinical support. Recently, Lidia came to
visit me to share her latest accomplishment: she completed her CNA certification and was interviewing for
positions.
The Friendship Center is located at St. Elizabeth House on Main Street in Hartford. It offers a day shelter which
provides hot meals five days a week, access to case management services, health care, showers, and an
emergency food pantry. Last fiscal year
5,132 individuals and families came to The
Friendship Center for services and more than
66,500 meals were served.
Rubi Alegria has worked for Mercy Housing and
Shelter for five years as the Family Services
Case Manager. She is fluent in three languages
and connects with individuals and their
families through The Friendship Center. For
some she might help them with an electrical
bill that they can’t afford, for others who
arrive in her office with all of their
belongings, Rubi works to get them into a
shelter and find them housing as quickly as
possible.
Paying it Forward
“Tina” grew up in what she calls a “dysfunctional family”. Her mother divorced her father, a violent alcoholic,
when she was a young girl. But his anger towards her mother continued for years, at one point almost killing
her mother. Despite the family dynamics she grew up in, she enjoyed going to school and did very well. She
pursued higher education and graduated with a four year college degree, eventually earning a Masters Degree
in Social Work.
When she was twenty-four years old, a friend gave her a prescription pain killer, just to try. She describes it as
“just something everyone did back then”. Tina gradually started taking more and by the age of thirty-one she
knew she was addicted. She decided to admit her addiction to
her employer and that she was stealing medication. They were
very supportive of her, but because she admitted to stealing, she
was terminated. She entered rehab for the first time and
responded well to it. She was eventually able to go back to
work. Unfortunately a bad romantic relationship lead her to
relapse again, and she went to rehab for a second time.
A few year later, Tina was back on track and had a new
boyfriend. This boyfriend introduced her to crack cocaine.
Within six months she lost everything and hit rock bottom, it was
December of 2012. During this time she had been staying in
shelters, and weighed only 100 pounds. At that point she says, “I
was spiritually and emotionally dead. I prayed for death.” On
December 25th, 2012, as she lay in a cot in a shelter, she
prayed. She promised she would stay clean, and to “please lead
me in the right direction.” Two days later she received a call
from Mercy Housing and Shelter informing her there was an
opening in our Transitional Living Program at Shepherd Home in
Middletown.
She walked into Shepherd Home on December 27, 2012 emotionally numb, and made a promise to herself that
she was going to do the best she could and put all of her effort into getting better. She saw this as an
opportunity.
In twelve months’ time, Tina worked closely with a her case
manager at Shepherd Home. She was able to get a job quickly,
thanks to her education and background in social work. One year
to the day that she entered Shepherd Home, Tina moved into her
own apartment. “I have to pinch myself” she says when she looks
around her apartment, so excited to be where she is today.
Tina’s thoughts are now about how she can pay it forward. She recently got a job at a social service
organization. In addition to working, she joined a homeless speakers group that meets twice a month. They
travel to area churches to share their stories of homelessness, most recently speaking at a Legislative Breakfast
at the State Capitol. She also volunteers her time working with a group that distributes food and clothing. “I
feel like this is my new direction, once I get on my feet and can get a car, I want to pass along my rental
subsidy to someone else. I just want to pay it forward.”
Tina is a former resident of Mercy’s Shepherd Home facility in Middletown. She continues to be supported by a
Mercy Case Manager who is in frequent contact with her to ensure her continued success.
19th Annual Dreams Can Come True Gala
Surpasses $2 Million Dollars
A record number of guests attended Mercy’s 19th Annual Dreams Can Come True Gala on Saturday, November
9th at the Marriott Hartford Downtown. “This year’s gala was the largest ever, with over three hundred
people in attendance.” said Sister Patricia McKeon, Executive Director. “You could feel the energy in the
room, it was a beautiful event celebrating Mercy Housing and Shelter’s thirtieth anniversary.”
“We looked back on the past thirty years and celebrated
Mercy’s past, present and future while we honored all of
our former Board Chairs and Gala Chairs for their
leadership and commitment to help us fight
homelessness,” added Sister Pat. The honorary
committee included thirty years of past Board Chairs.
Former Chairs include: Diane Betkoski, Karen Brand,
Steven Cote, Denise Hall, Richard Gentile, Eric Henzy,
Earl McMahon, Louis Obermeier, Mary Onidi, Kenneth
Rizzio, Richard Quinn, Edward Sullivan, and Joseph
Toce, Jr. Also honored were Mercy’s past Gala Chairs
who were instrumental in the success of what that gala
has raised. Over the last 18 years, the gala has raised
$1.9 million dollars of critical funding for Mercy’s
programs. Past Gala Chairs include: Diane Betkoski,
Karen Brand, Laura Bellotti Cardillo, Antoinette
Carrabba, Myles Gibbons, Denise Hall, Kathy Lilley,
Catherine Mohan, Mary Onidi, Kathleen Quigley, Lindsay
Ryan, Dale Ribaudo, and Mary-Ellen Whinnem.
This past Christmas Tina went home for the first time in two years.
She was always in touch with her mother, but stayed away when
she was fighting her addictions. “What breaks my heart most was
hurting others, especially my mother. My mother has always been
there for me. So many times she paid for private rehab. My
addiction was so shameful to me, it was easier to stay away from
her, than have her see me at my worst.”
“We are delighted to announce that we exceeded $2 million dollars raised through the gala, since it began 19
years ago” said Sister Pat. Money raised will benefit Mercy’s programs to help the homeless in Hartford and
Middlesex Counties.
Tina calls Shepherd Home a “blessing” and describes overcoming
her addiction “like starting a hike”. She says “People keep telling
you to keep going and it seems so far out of reach. But when you
finally reach the top—I can’t believe I got here.”
“For 30 years, Mercy has ensured that countless thousands of men, women and children do not go hungry and
have a safe place to sleep. But they offer more than just services – they offer hope for a better future and the
tools to make it happen and I couldn’t be more proud to support this wonderful organization,” said Lieutenant
Governor Nancy Wyman.
Keisha Grant from NBC Connecticut was the Celebrity Emcee and did a wonderful job leading the program, as
did Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, as the Celebrity Auctioneer. Lieutenant Governor Wyman was
entertaining and very successful in her efforts to encourage bidding, setting an all-time record for the most
money raised through the live auction.