What Mercy House Living Centers does

Mercy House Living Centers is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 by Father Jerome T. Karcher in Santa Ana, California, that operates an integrated system of homeless services across seven counties in California and Arizona. Its core offerings comprise emergency shelters and navigation centers (including Bridges at Kraemer Place, Brundage Lane Navigation Center, Oxnard Navigation Center, and the newly opened Santa Barbara Navigation Center), permanent supportive housing communities (such as The Orchard, Casa Querencia, Vista de la Sierra, and La Entrada), transitional residences, and homelessness prevention programs serving families, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Each shelter client is connected to a Housing Navigator as part of the organization's housing-first service model, and Mercy House reports a 91% prevention success rate over five years. The organization has served over 100,000 individuals since founding and currently serves 7,000+ annually.

Mercy House's underlying technology is concentrated in the Orange County Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for client tracking, case management, and HUD-compliant aggregate reporting, supplemented by housing navigation workflows and data-driven program evaluation frameworks. The technology layer is functional rather than differentiated, with no proprietary AI/ML, mobile applications, or platform offerings; integration with county-coordinated entry systems (211 access points) serves as the primary client acquisition infrastructure.

The revenue model is a hybrid of government grants and contracts with county and municipal governments (Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Ventura County, Kern County, Maricopa County AZ, City of Corona, City of Ontario) and tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals through one-time donations, planned giving, stock donations, employer matching programs, donor advised funds, and The Pulse monthly giving program. Services are provided at no cost to clients. Distribution occurs through directly operated facilities rather than through consumer-facing channels, and customer acquisition for service recipients runs through county coordinated entry systems. Strategic development partnerships with Wakeland Housing Development Corporation, Community Development Partners, National CORE, and HomeAid Orange County provide a developer pipeline for new permanent housing supply, and the organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and Candid Platinum Transparency Seal.

Name

Mercy House Living Centers

Legal name

Mercy House Living Centers

Website

https://mercyhouse.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mercy House Living Centers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1988 that operates emergency shelters, navigation centers, permanent supportive housing, and homelessness prevention programs across seven California and Arizona counties, serving 7,000+ individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter programs
• Permanent supportive housing
• Housing navigation services
• Homelessness prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Ana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals through the website, events, and monthly giving program (The Pulse).
2. Planned Giving: Estate planning through bequests and planned giving options allowing donors to include Mercy House in wills or trusts.
3. Stock Donations: Donations of appreciated securities, stocks, or bonds as tax-effective giving option.
4. Corporate Matching: Matched giving through employer workplace giving programs that can double or triple donations.
5. Donor Advised Funds: DAF contributions allowing donors immediate tax benefits with flexible grant timing.
6. Government Contracts: Operating contracts with county and city governments to operate emergency shelters, navigation centers, and housing programs. Major contracts include Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Ventura County, Kern County, and Maricopa County.
7. Tax-Deductible Donations: Charitable contributions eligible for tax deductions under 501(c)(3) status. Tax ID: 33-0315864

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mercy House Living Centers operates a comprehensive system of homeless services including emergency shelters, navigation centers, permanent supportive housing, and homelessness prevention programs. Services are delivered free of charge to individuals and families experiencing homelessness across seven counties in California and Arizona, with each shelter client assigned a Housing Navigator to facilitate the transition to permanent housing. The organization also operates specialized residences for veterans, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and families with children.

Product overview

Mercy House Living Centers is a nonprofit homeless services organization that provides a comprehensive system of dignified housing opportunities, programs, and supportive services. The organization operates an integrated portfolio of programs including Emergency Shelters & Navigation Centers (such as Bridges at Kraemer Place, Brundage Lane Navigation Center, and Oxnard Navigation Center), Permanent Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing communities (including Joseph Residence, Emmanuel Residence, The Orchard, Casa Querencia, and Vista de la Sierra), and Homelessness Prevention services. Their service model combines emergency shelter with housing navigation, case management, and supportive services to help individuals and families transition from homelessness to stable housing. The organization serves seven counties across California and Arizona and has served over 100,000 individuals throughout its 35+ year history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelters & Navigation Centers Year-round and seasonal emergency shelter programs providing temporary housing, meals, showers, life skills, case management, and access to medical services for adults experiencing homelessness. Navigation Centers connect every shelter client to a Housing Navigator who works to identify needs and establish permanent housing rapidly. Includes large facilities such as Bridges at Kraemer Place (200 beds), Brundage Lane Navigation Center (299 beds), Oxnard Navigation Center (110 beds), Buena Park Navigation Center (149 beds), Huntington Beach Navigation Center (174 beds), Santa Barbara Navigation Center (100 beds), The ARCH (55 beds), Casa Aliento, and Sue's Espacio. Delivered free to clients via county government contracts.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Permanent and Permanent Supportive Housing providing affordable housing solutions with on-site supportive services for chronically homeless individuals, veterans, families, and individuals with disabilities. Includes dedicated communities such as The Orchard (71 units), Casa Querencia (57 units), Vista de la Sierra (80 units), Legacy Square, Home Front Camp Anza (30 veteran units), La Entrada (65 units), Mesa Vista, La Placita Cinco, St. Michaels (50 units), and The Cove (12 units). Offers a path to self-sufficiency through case management and supportive services.
• Homelessness Prevention Program Short-term rental assistance and supportive services within housing communities to help low-income families and individuals maintain housing stability and prevent homelessness. The program has achieved a 91% success rate in preventing re-entry into the homeless system over the past five years. Operated across multiple California counties and Maricopa County, Arizona.
• Housing Navigation Services Every client upon entry to a Mercy House shelter or program is connected to a Housing Navigator who works with them to identify what's needed to establish permanent housing. Housing Navigation is embedded across the full portfolio of shelters and permanent housing communities to accelerate permanent placement outcomes.
• Regina Residence Transitional housing for homeless mothers and their children where families may reside for up to one year while mothers are employed, pursuing education, or enrolled in job training programs. A flagship Mercy House program addressing family homelessness.
• Emmanuel Residence State-of-the-art 21-bedroom facility housing adult men and women living with HIV or AIDS, providing stable housing with supportive services coordinated with medical care. Specialized housing for individuals requiring medical-care coordination and stable housing for health management.
• Mercy House Center (Walk-in Outreach) Walk-in outreach program designed to address immediate needs of the homeless population through crisis intervention, food and shelter referral, clothing vouchers, transportation assistance, and hygiene items. Operates as an access point connecting clients to Mercy House's broader services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of prevention clients have not re-entered homeless system in 5 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission - Psalm 139 ProjectminorOthers · 11 May 2026Funding partner for pregnancy resource center ultrasound machine at Mercy House in Elizabethtown, NC. Part of pro-life ministry initiative.
• National COREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Housing developer partner for permanent supportive housing. Projects include Legacy Square and Vista de la Sierra (80 units) with large community center for resident services.
• The Center in HollywoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Mental health services provider for Lake House permanent supportive housing residents. Provides on-site services for individuals affected by severe mental illness.
• Community Development PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Real estate development partner converting underutilized properties into affordable housing. Projects include The Orchard (Santa Ana motel conversion), Casa Querencia (57 units), La Placita Cinco (retail plaza conversion), and St. Michaels (50 units).
• Wakeland Housing Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Strategic partnership for housing development projects. Wakeland has developed multiple Mercy House properties including Home Front Camp Anza (30 units for veterans), La Entrada (65 units), and provides development programs for residents. Long-standing partner in permanent housing expansion.
• HomeAid Orange CountymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Construction and building partner that has built and remodeled multiple Mercy House facilities including Joseph Residence, Regina Residence, Emmanuel Residence, and San Miguel Residence.
• City of OntariomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsultant with City of Ontario since 2006 to address homelessness challenges. Began expansion into San Bernardino County with Guadalupe Residence (15 four-bedroom apartments for families).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LA Family Housing: Large Los Angeles County nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and homelessness prevention — directly comparable service mix and county-contract funding model.
• Skid Row Housing Trust: Los Angeles-based nonprofit that develops and operates permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness, sharing Mercy House's emphasis on housing development partnerships and chronically homeless populations.
• UMOM New Day Centers: Arizona's largest homeless services provider, operating emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and youth programs in Phoenix/Maricopa County — directly comparable to Mercy House's Arizona operations.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): California-based nonprofit operating a comparable continuum-of-care model including interim/emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and rapid rehousing across Los Angeles, San Diego, and other Southern California counties — directly overlapping Mercy House's service model and target geography.
• Lamp Community (now The People Concern): Los Angeles nonprofit providing services across the homelessness continuum including outreach, interim housing, and permanent supportive housing — directly comparable integrated service model.

Broad incumbents

• Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation: San Diego-based affordable housing developer that co-develops permanent housing with Mercy House (Home Front Camp Anza, La Entrada) — operates similar permanent housing programs for low-income and homeless populations in California.
• National CORE: Large affordable housing developer and operator of permanent supportive housing across multiple states; a strategic partner of Mercy House (Legacy Square, Vista de la Sierra) but also a broader-scale peer with overlapping PSH portfolio.

Emerging players

• Coalition for Responsible Community Development: South Los Angeles nonprofit providing housing, workforce, and youth services to low-income communities including homeless populations — partial overlap on housing services and similar LA-area government-contract funding model.

Others

• Orange County United Way: Regional funder and convener in Mercy House's home Orange County market; not a direct operator but a peer organization working on the same homelessness and housing stability mission through grantmaking and program partnerships.

Regional players

• Community Action Partnership of Orange County: Orange County-based antipoverty nonprofit providing rental assistance, shelter, and homelessness prevention services — directly comparable prevention and emergency assistance programs in Mercy House's core OC geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mercyhouse1026
• Facebookfacebook.com/MercyHouseLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/uas/login?session_redirect=%2Fcompany%2F615419
• Instagraminstagram.com/mercyhouselc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mercy House Living Centers