TANGO Member Showcase - February 2026
Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation
Over 40 Years of Compassionate Service
More than four decades ago, the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut responded to a growing crisis—homelessness. Their answer was the creation of St. Elizabeth House, a safe haven for those without shelter, and The Friendship Center, offering food, basic supplies, and a sense of community. Founded in 1983, Mercy Housing & Shelter has grown far beyond its roots. Today, we operate nine unique programs across six locations, supporting individuals and families as they move from homelessness to stability and independence. Our mission goes beyond housing—we provide the tools, resources, and support people need to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Our Mission
Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation promotes independence and dignity by providing housing assistance and supportive services to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Mercy creates pathways toward self-sufficiency and advocates for systemic change to end homelessness.
Mercy Core Values: Respect, Compassion, Self-Determination
- Respect– Treating individuals with dignity, consideration and understanding
- Compassion– Deep empathy and concern for the suffering of others, coupled with a desire to alleviate that suffering. Support over shame
- Self-Determination – Emphasizes the importance of individuals setting goals, making their own choices and taking responsibility for their lives.Mercy Housing is an affiliate of Community Housing Advocates (CHA). CHA was established in 2018 as the parent organization and administrative services provider for both Mercy Housing and My Sisters’ Place. Both Mercy Housing and My Sisters’ Place retain their individual identities and non-profit tax identification.
Services provided by Mercy:
- Residential Programs – Including:
- Women’s Program – short-term housing and support services for women in recovery
- Community Respite Program – short-term housing and support services for adults experiencing mental health crisis
- Mercy House – housing and services for people living with HIV/AIDS
- The Haven – housing and support for young adults who have aged out of the foster care system and have complex care needs
- The Residence at St. Mary’s – supported housing for 12 adults with mental and physical disabilities
- Supportive Housing: Mercy provides case management and rental assistance to support formerly homeless individuals and families in 120 households throughout Hartford, Middlesex and Tolland counties.
- Day Shelter: Mercy’s Friendship Center offers hot meals, showers, restrooms, food pantry, clothes, shoes, phone charging stations, free monthly health clinic, connection to services and more
- Shelter Diversion: Aims to divert individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis from entering the homeless response system by helping them to connect with alternative housing options and mainstream resources
- Rapid Rehousing: Uses targeted financial assistance and short-term services to quickly return individuals and families who have slipped into homelessness back into housing and stability
- Homeless Outreach: Mercy’s trained teams engage individuals sleeping outside and in other places not fit for human habitation with the goal of getting them into shelter or permanent housing as quickly as possible
Recent Accomplishments:
In 2025 Mercy was able to:
- Serve 77,863 meals to those who were hungry and in need
- Divert 790 individuals from homelessness through our Diversion Program
- House 368 homeless individuals through our Supportive Housing Program
- House 165 people in crisis through our Residential Programs
How has TANGO impacted your Organization:
TANGO’s annual conference helps us to stay current on important trends that impact CT nonprofits and has also helped to introduce us to vendors that serve our sector.
Contact Us Today!
Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation
Address: 221 Main Street, 4th Floor,
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-808-2048
Website: Mercyhousing.org