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Mercy House client Kevin Palmer was featured on the front page of Sunday’s Orange County Register in a story titled Foreclosure in Orange County: ‘Like a death.’
Kevin was interviewed, along with others in the community who have experienced losing their homes during these tough economic times, by reporter Greg Hardesty. To read the full story you can link to the Orange County Register or click here for a PDF version.
Brushfire recording artist and Orange County native Matt Costa will perform music from his albums “The Songs We Sing” and “Unfamiliar Faces,” as well as new material.
Also performing will be Satisfaction, described by the Orange County Register as “… that rare and gifted musical chameleon able to deliver songs that rock without losing their melodic way. [Satisfaction] somehow fuses the best of 1970s artists such as Wings and Harry Nilsson with the modern attack of neo-new wave proponents such as Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand.”
Silent auction items include:
The fifth annual fundraising gala, Living with Heart, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.Tax-deductible tickets to this black-tie optional evening of cocktails, silent auction, dinner, live auction and exciting performances are $250. The proceeds of the event will be used to support the growing number of Mercy House services and facilities.
As part of its ongoing efforts to help consumers gain the skills they need to be financially successful, Experian®, the global information services company, recently awarded $350,000 in grant funds to six nonprofit organizations. The funds will be used to champion financial literacy, math and economic education and will
support services that help families in crisis rebuild their financial lives. Mercy House received $50,000 of those funds to support clients.
The Orange County Cold Weather Armory Emergency ShelterProgram concluded it’s first year of operation managed by Mercy House on April 30, 2009. The Cold Weather Armory Emergency Shelter Program provides shelter, food and services to the homeless of Orange County at the Santa Ana and Fullerton National Guard armories during the winter months. The program will resume in the fall. More to come.
As reported by Liset Marquez in the Apr. 24, 2009 Inland Empire Daily Bulletin, The City Council has approved a loan to acquire and rehabilitate a 15-unit property on Francis Street for Mercy House to provide housing for homeless people.
In the agreement, the council agreed to lease the 15 two-bedroom units to Mercy House.
“This is significant because it will allow us to continue to provide affordable housing,” said City Manager Greg Devereaux.
When the city entered into a partnership with Mercy House in 2005, the main objectives were to provide emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, said Julie Bjork, the city’s housing manager.
Up until the agreement was made last week, Mercy House had only 14 units of permanent housing available, she said.
Continue reading ‘The City of Ontario, Calif. Approves Loan for New Mercy House Facility’
Mercy House has successfully placed its 100th family into the Family Redirection Program. The program prevents families with children under the age of five-years-old from having to stay at the National Guard Armories that are used as emergency shelters for the Orange County Cold Weather Armory Program. Read the story in The Orange County Register.
This winter, Mercy House won the contract to operate the cold weather emergency shelters at the Santa Ana and Fullerton armories. In the past, there had been some unfortunate instances involving children while staying at the armories, which was unacceptable to Mercy House Executive Director Larry Haynes. He made a commitment to double the security for the safety of all who stay at the armories, and create a program so that no young children would ever have to spend a night there.
Continue reading ‘Mercy House Announces 100th Family to Enter The Family Redirection Program’
Each year “Team Mercy House” participates in the Orange County AIDS Walk- we walk together as clients, staff, board members and friends of Mercy House. We directly benefit from the funds raised, and we have our own booth at the event to educate people in the community. The funds we receive help us to provide YOU with housing, case management, therapy, counseling, job acquisition guidance, etc.
Orange County AIDS Walk will “Step Up To The Plate” at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Saturday, May 16 to continue the fight against this disease. There will be entertainment, food, prizes, fireworks, AIDS Services resources, a pie eating contest, and of course, the 2.5 mile walk.
If you would like to join Team Mercy House, you can register online at www.ocaidswalk.com.
If you would like to help us reach our $10,000 fundraising goal, friends or family can make a check out to “OC AIDS Walk.” For more information, please contact Stephanie Miles at (714) 836-7188 ext. 116 or stephaniem@mercyhouse.net
Mercy House to recognize President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council Lucy Dunn as Community Honoree, and Western Digital as Corporate Honoree
Mercy House, one of Southern California’s premier advocates of the homeless, providing a unique system of dignified housing alternatives, programs, and supportive services, today announced that its fifth annual fundraising gala, Living with Heart, will be held at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
This year Mercy House will celebrate the accomplishments of Lucy Dunn, president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council. Governor Schwarzenegger appointed her to the California Transportation Commission in 2008 and she served as the state’s Director of Housing and Community Development in 2004. She is a director of a number of non-profit organizations including the Lennar Charitable Housing Foundation and the Bolsa Chica Conservancy. Dunn is also a member of Orange County’s working group to develop the county’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness along with Mercy House’s Executive Director Larry Haynes.
Mercy House also will honor the achievements of Western Digital Corp. As an exemplary corporate citizen in the communities in which it operates, WD is committed to supporting the needs of these communities by funding through its WD Foundation local charitable organizations such as Mercy House. Over the years, Mercy House has been the recipient of the generosity of the WD Foundation through numerous contributions and grant awards. Continue reading ‘Mercy House Announces 5th Annual Fundraising Gala, Living With Heart’
In a recent article in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, staff reporter Liset Marquez outlined the need for supplies in the Homeless Services Area in Ontario, Calif. managed by Mercy House.
With rain in the forecast for the next couple of days, officials with Mercy House are asking for the community’s help to keep residents warm in the Homeless Services Area - also known as Tent City.
Mercy House, an agency fighting to end homelessness, has partnered with the city to provide temporary housing as well as managing Tent City, said Larry Haynes, executive director for Mercy House.
“There are a number of things that we’re in need of like sleeping bags, hiking supplies,” Haynes said. “The biggest issue is keeping them warm.”
Haynes said his agency is always in need of the community’s help. Mercy House is still looking for churches or groups to help feed the homeless, he said.
A recent issue is that the residents are getting items stolen from their tents, Haynes said. “We’re looking for a solution,” he said. “If they leave their tent someone else will go in there and steal their stuff.”
Haynes said Mercy House is asking the community to donate some kind of storage bins with locks to help curb the problem. “If people have creative thoughts then we’re wide open to it,” Haynes said.
The public is invited to drop off donations at Mercy House Walk-In Center, 905 E. Holt Ave. Call (909) 460-6768 for hours of operation.
Join us at the Living With Heart happy hour benefiting Mercy House! Sip a signature Heartini cocktail created especially for our event. Munch on light appetizers. Network with new friends and old. Try your luck with the opportunity drawing. Proof Bar generously will donate 25 percent of event sales to Mercy House. Proof Bar offers eclectic music and a fully stocked bar, all in a semi-intimate setting. The lounge area has a cosmopolitan feel with a dramatic 25-foot lifted ceiling, smooth natural and atmosphere lighting and indoor vines twisting upward from rock bed. (www.proofbar.com) Mercy House is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization providing homeless prevention, emergency services, transitional housing and permanent housing with supportive services to families and individuals. (www.mercyhouse.net) $10 donation suggested. Please invite your friends, family and colleagues. R.S.V.P. to 714-862-1112 or jamie.miller@wundermarx.com.
Proof Bar
215 North Broadway, Santa Ana, Calif.
Monday, Feb. 2, 5:00 p.m.