Tender Mercies

What Tender Mercies does

Tender Mercies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio, that provides permanent supportive housing and wraparound services for homeless adults with severe and persistent mental illness. It operates six to seven residential buildings across Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine and West End neighborhoods, including Harkavy Hall, Dana Hotel, Pleasant Street, the 47-unit 821 Flats (opened 2019), the 62-unit Slater Hall (opened 2024), and the historic Spaeth & Kelly Hall (under renovation, completion expected December 2025). In 2024 it served 226 residents with 99% maintaining or transitioning to permanent housing and 60% maintaining or growing income. The model combines 24/7 staffed housing with wellness and recovery programs, living skills coaching, GED and vocational support, counseling, and an aftercare/peer-support program for residents moving into independent community housing; referrals flow exclusively through the Coordinated Entry system operated by Strategies to End Homelessness.

The organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships via the tiered Partner of Hope program, legacy/planned giving and an approximately $4.0M endowment, vehicle donations through CARS, commemorative brick sales at $200/$500/$1,000 tiers, volunteer-supported meal programs, and government grants from city, state, and affordable-housing finance partners. Capital projects have been financed with Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Cincinnati Development Fund, and Fifth Fifth Bank. Direct per-resident cost is disclosed at under $60/day, compared with a stated $40,000+ annual societal cost of street homelessness, and 84% of total expenses go to programs. Total net assets stood at $21.6M in 2023, a 3.2% increase year-over-year, with $5.6M in cash/equivalents and $13.9M in property and equipment; reported revenue, endowments, and quarterly financials are not publicly disclosed.

Strategically, Tender Mercies announced a 10-year plan in September 2023 with an explicit goal of serving 400+ residents annually by 2032, and recently expanded its corporate partnership and planned-giving channels. It holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and is governed by a Board of Trustees led by President Brett Heekin, with Russell Winters as CEO.

Name

Tender Mercies

Legal name

Tender Mercies, Inc.

Website

https://tendermerciesinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tender Mercies is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1985, that provides permanent supportive housing and wraparound recovery services for homeless adults with severe mental illness across six to seven buildings, serving 226 residents annually with a stated goal of reaching 400+ per year by 2032.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Permanent Supportive Housing Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Permanent supportive housing
• Homeless services nonprofit
• Mental health housing
• Affordable supportive housing
• Wraparound resident services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to provide housing for homeless adults with mental illness.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partner of Hope program where businesses sponsor the organization with various contribution levels, receiving recognition and branding opportunities.
3. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: Estate planned gifts, bequests, and endowment contributions from donors including retirement accounts, donor advised funds, and charitable trusts.
4. Commemorative Bricks: Sale of commemorative bricks at $200, $500, and $1000 levels placed in courtyard patios as tributes.
5. Vehicle Donations: Car donation program through CARS where vehicles are picked up, sold at auction, and 80% of proceeds go to Tender Mercies.
6. Volunteer Meal Program: Volunteers prepare and serve meals to residents, reducing food costs for the organization.
7. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from government sources to support permanent supportive housing operations and expansion projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Tender Mercies provides permanent supportive housing for homeless adults with severe and persistent mental illness in Cincinnati. Residents receive private rooms in one of six residential buildings along with 24/7 staffing, wellness and recovery programs, living skills coaching, counseling, GED and vocational support, social and recreational activities, and aftercare peer support. Referrals flow through the Coordinated Entry system operated by Strategies to End Homelessness.

Product overview

Tender Mercies is a nonprofit organization offering permanent supportive housing for homeless adults with mental illness in Cincinnati, Ohio. The organization operates six residential buildings (Harkavy Hall, Dana Hotel, Spaeth & Kelly Hall, Pleasant Street, The 821 Flats, and Slater Hall) providing over 100 housing units. Core housing is paired with comprehensive support services including Wellness & Recovery programs, Living Skills training, GED & Vocational support, and AfterCare services. The organization also operates volunteer programs (Meal Program, Resident Activities) and fundraising initiatives (Partners of Hope corporate sponsorship, Commemorative Bricks). Tender Mercies serves approximately 226 residents annually with a 99% housing retention rate, and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025 having transformed the lives of over 2,500 individuals since 1985.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Permanent Supportive Housing Permanent housing with 24/7 staffing and wraparound support services (wellness programs, living skills training, counseling, aftercare) for homeless adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Residents are admitted through the Coordinated Entry referral system operated by Strategies to End Homelessness.
• Wellness & Recovery Services Programs supporting residents' mental health recovery, including counseling, workshops, and access to psychiatric care and medications. Offered to residents of Tender Mercies housing.
• Living Skills Training Coaching in Activities of Daily Living (bathing, dressing, eating, grooming) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (managing finances, housework, shopping, transportation, meal preparation) delivered by a dedicated Living Skills Coach to support resident independence.
• GED & Vocational Support Educational and vocational support helping residents obtain GED credentials and job-readiness training for employment and income stability.
• AfterCare Services Continuing support program for residents who have transitioned out of Tender Mercies into community-based permanent housing, including Peer Support services. 15 residents moved to permanent housing in 2024 with AfterCare and Peer Support.
• Partners of Hope Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship program providing businesses with brand exposure at Tender Mercies events, employee volunteer opportunities, and year-round recognition in exchange for financial support of the organization's mission.
• Commemorative Bricks Engraved bricks sold to donors in Red ($200), Silver ($500), and Gold ($1000) tiers, placed in the Harkavy Hall courtyard patio as lasting tributes to honor loved ones, donors, or family members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of residents maintained housing or exited to community-based permanent housing in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Model GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner collaborating on building renovations and new construction. Recognized as a Partner of Hope and values the partnership deeply.
• Over-The-Rhine Community HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal housing organization partnering on development projects and community initiatives for affordable housing.
• River Hills BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner of Hope sponsor. Supports Tender Mercies through the Partner of Hope program, reflecting shared commitment to breaking the cycle of homelessness and strengthening communities.
• UnistrutminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner of Hope sponsor that supports the program because stable housing helps the entire community. Enjoys spreading word on Tender Mercies' work.
• Mercy Health CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner of Hope sponsor. Recognizes the link between housing and health, supporting Tender Mercies' services for the region's most vulnerable residents with empathy and holistic healing in mind.
• Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth services organization that hired Tender Mercies resident Jon as a Peer Support Specialist, demonstrating pathway from resident to community employment.
• Strategies to End HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Coordinated Entry system through which Tender Mercies receives referrals of homeless individuals with mental illness.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BRIDGE Housing: California-based nonprofit developer of affordable and supportive housing with on-site services. Comparable combination of multi-property portfolio, partnership-driven development model, and supportive services integration.
• Pathways to Housing: National nonprofit founded on the Housing First model serving individuals with mental illness, substance use, and homelessness. Highly comparable service population and program philosophy (low-barrier PSH with intensive wraparound services).
• Father Bill's & MainSpring: Massachusetts nonprofit providing emergency shelter, PSH, and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. Comparable service population and combination of housing with case management and behavioral health support.
• Common Ground: New York City nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing and street-to-home programs for formerly homeless and vulnerable New Yorkers. Directly comparable PSH model with on-site services for SPMI residents.
• Skid Row Housing Trust: Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals, many with mental illness. Comparable population (homeless + SPMI), building portfolio model, and 24/7 supportive services design.
• Over-the-Rhine Community Housing: Cincinnati-based affordable housing nonprofit operating in Over-the-Rhine. Listed as an active co-development partner with Tender Mercies, serving overlapping populations in the same geography.
• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit developer and operator of supportive and affordable housing serving low-income and formerly homeless populations. Directly comparable in mission, PSH model, and integrated supportive services, with much larger geographic footprint.
• Heading Home: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing PSH and supportive services to homeless individuals and families, including those with mental health challenges. Comparable regional PSH operator with similar integrated service model.

Others

• Corporation for Supportive Housing: National intermediary that finances, advocates for, and consults with PSH operators across the US. Adjacent ecosystem participant shaping funding and policy environment for Tender Mercies' operating model.
• Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services: Regional behavioral health provider serving Hamilton County residents with mental illness and addiction. Tangential — referral source and employment pathway (Peer Support Specialist) for Tender Mercies residents, but not a direct PSH operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tendermerciesoh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Tender Mercies