Christmas at Mercy - Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation
Transcription
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. (Continued on Page 2) 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.