Mercy Housing & Shelter

What Mercy Housing & Shelter does

Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1983 by the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut to address homelessness in the Greater Hartford region. The organization operates nine distinct programs across six locations in Hartford and Middlesex Counties, providing emergency shelter, day shelter, permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, shelter diversion, and residential recovery services. Core facilities include St. Elizabeth House (an emergency shelter and residential program facility at 118 Main Street in Hartford serving 40 residents) and The Friendship Center (a day shelter open Tuesday through Saturday serving approximately 100 daily visitors with hot meals, showers, food pantry, and WiFi access). The organization operates under the Community Housing Advocates (CHA) umbrella, formed in 2018 alongside sister organization My Sisters' Place.

In FY2025 (July 2024 to June 2025), Mercy served 77,863 nutritious meals, housed 205 individuals through Permanent Supportive Housing, served 165 individuals through residential programs, diverted 790 individuals from homelessness (401 in Greater Hartford, 389 in Greater Middletown), served 3,833 people through its Diversion HUBs, and helped 114 individuals achieve housing through Rapid Rehousing. Specialized offerings include a Women's Recovery Program and the seasonal Holiday Wish Program. All services are provided free of charge to clients. The organization does not sell technology products; service delivery is human-intensive, conducted in-person at physical facilities.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded. Six identified revenue streams include individual donations, corporate matching gifts, special events (annual Hope & Home Celebration gala and Travelers Championship Birdies for Charity), planned giving (stocks, securities, bequests), vehicle donations through donationline.com, and United Way designations (code 5329). Material state funding was secured in 2025, including a $5M Federal Cuts Response Fund allocation and participation in a $58.6M Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee housing initiative at St. Elizabeth House. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors drawing from Travelers, CVS Health, Pratt & Whitney, CIGNA, and Robinson + Cole LLP. The organization holds CARF International accreditation and a 4-star Charity Navigator rating. CEO Kara Capone leads the organization and received the 2026 Hartford Business Journal Homelessness Social Justice Award.

Name

Mercy Housing & Shelter

Legal name

Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation

Website

https://mercyhousingct.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mercy Housing and Shelter is a Hartford, Connecticut-based nonprofit founded in 1983 that provides emergency shelter, supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and shelter diversion services to individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness across Hartford and Middlesex Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services and Supportive Housing

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Behavioral Health–Capable Assisted Living (Mental Health/SUD Support) (HLADABAI)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Supportive housing programs
• Emergency shelter services
• Rapid rehousing assistance
• Affordable housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary donations from individuals made online, by check, or cash, serving as a primary funding source for the organization's operations and programs.
2. Corporate Matching Gifts: Many corporations match employee gifts to charitable organizations, with some also providing donations for employee volunteer hours.
3. Special Events: Annual Hope & Home Celebration fundraiser featuring sponsorships, auction items, and paddle raises. Also participates in Birdies for Charity program with 15% bonus from Webster Bank.
4. Planned Giving: Gifts of stocks, securities, real estate, bequests, and other planned gifts that provide large, often unrestricted contributions.
5. Vehicle Donations: Tax-deductible vehicle donations through donationline.com.
6. United Way Designations: United Way workplace giving with code 5329 for donors to designate their gift.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Mercy Housing and Shelter provides a continuum of housing and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Hartford and Middlesex Counties, Connecticut. Services are delivered free of charge through nine programs including emergency shelter and residential programs at St. Elizabeth House, day services at The Friendship Center, Permanent Supportive Housing, Shelter Diversion, Rapid Rehousing, and specialized recovery and seasonal programs.

Product overview

Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation is a nonprofit social services organization offering a unified portfolio of housing support programs. The organization operates nine distinct programs across six locations serving Hartford and Middlesex Counties, Connecticut. Core offerings include Permanent Supportive Housing and Residential Programs for long-term housing stability, The Friendship Center day shelter providing immediate needs services (meals, showers, food pantry, WiFi), and Shelter Diversion and Rapid Rehousing programs following the Housing First evidence-based model. Seasonal programs like the Holiday Wish Program and specialized recovery programs complement the core housing services. The organization served 77,863 meals, helped 205 people through Permanent Supportive Housing, and assisted 790 people in avoiding homelessness during FY2025 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Permanent Supportive Housing Long-term housing program that helped 205 people gain safe, stable housing in FY2025 by providing ongoing supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Residential Programs Residential programs at St. Elizabeth House serving 165 people in FY2025, providing safe housing while helping residents develop independence and life skills.
• The Friendship Center Day shelter at St. Elizabeth House offering hot meals, showers, food pantry, WiFi access, and connection to community services, open Tuesdays through Saturdays.
• Shelter Diversion Program Evidence-based program helping 790 people avoid homelessness in FY2025 by connecting them to alternative housing options and mainstream resources, including the Greater Hartford and Middletown Diversion HUBs serving 3,833 people.
• Rapid Rehousing Program Program helping 114 people find and maintain appropriate housing after literal homelessness in FY2025, using targeted financial assistance and short-term services.
• Women's Recovery Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 77,863 nutritious meals served in FY2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Travelers Championship Birdies for CharitymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Annual giving platform where nonprofits solicit donations and receive a 15% bonus on every dollar raised, thanks to Webster Bank. Mercy participates each spring as part of Connecticut's only PGA Tour event.
• Community Housing Advocates (CHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CHA is the parent corporation formed in 2018 that houses both Mercy Housing and Shelter and My Sisters' Place under one umbrella organization. CHA is dedicated to supporting its affiliates and transforming local communities in Hartford and Middlesex counties through supportive housing services and food assistance.
• My Sisters' PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-standing Hartford organization committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness, affiliated under Community Housing Advocates alongside Mercy Housing. Both organizations share the mission of supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Greater Hartford Coordinated Access NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership serving 401 people in Greater Hartford through coordinated access to homelessness services and shelter diversion programs.
• Middletown-Meriden-Wallingford Coordinated Access NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership serving 389 people in Greater Middletown area through coordinated access network for homelessness diversion and rapid rehousing.
• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Mercy Fund for MinistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant supporting the work done in Mercy Housing's Friendship Center. This is the founding religious organization that established Mercy Housing in 1983.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• My Sisters' Place: Sister Hartford nonprofit under the same Community Housing Advocates umbrella, focused on breaking the cycle of homelessness for women and families. Comparable as a co-affiliated peer with overlapping service population and identical geographic footprint.
• Catholic Charities of Hartford: Hartford-area Catholic Charities affiliate providing housing assistance, shelter, and social services. Comparable as a faith-based peer offering housing and homelessness services in the same geographic market.
• Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness: Statewide Connecticut organization providing coordinated homelessness services, advocacy, and training. Directly comparable as a Connecticut-based homelessness services peer operating in Mercy's same service geography.
• Journey Home: Hartford-based nonprofit providing housing placement, shelter diversion, and rapid rehousing services. Directly comparable as a Hartford-region peer offering overlapping Housing First and rapid rehousing programs.
• Hartford Rescue Mission: Hartford-based emergency services nonprofit providing shelter, meals, and recovery programming for individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction. Comparable as a Hartford direct service peer in emergency shelter and recovery housing.
• Chrysalis Center: Hartford-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, housing, and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance use. Comparable for its integrated housing-and-behavioral-health model in the same Hartford market.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army: National faith-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services nationwide. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering overlapping emergency shelter and housing programs at far greater scale.
• Habitat for Humanity International: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing construction and homeownership. Comparable as a broader housing-assistance incumbent, though operating through home-building rather than shelter and supportive services.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National advocacy and policy organization advancing evidence-based solutions to homelessness. Comparable as a broader industry peer shaping federal funding priorities and best practices that Mercy's Housing First programs follow.

Emerging players

• Covenant House: National nonprofit providing housing and supportive services to youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Comparable as a specialized shelter-and-supportive-housing peer, though focused on a narrower youth demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTMercyHousing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjF-t4IvKFpjPgs-_c56dig
• Facebookfacebook.com/MercyHousingandShelter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mercy-housing-and-shelter-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/mercyhousingct

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Mercy Housing & Shelter