Community Housing Advocates, Inc.

Understanding that housing is a huge step in the right direction toward combating opioid addictions, the State’s Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee chose to earmark funds to help the homeless battling addiction. Just how the settlement monies will be used was discussed during the Governor’s News Conference held at Mercy Housing’s St. Elizabeth House. The $58.6 million will be spread out over four years awarding vouchers to 500 individuals each of those four years, who are in need of supportive housing vouchers.?Use the links below for more… NBC-CT news story including interview with a graduating resident of Mercy Housing’s Women’s Respite Program: ?https://lnkd.in/erpUNAsw WTNH coverage: https://lnkd.in/edFnkc4S Connecticut Network – use the link below to VIEW ENTIRE news conference: https://lnkd.in/eCDVRGRm

Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation was honored to host a news conference for the Office of Governor Ned Lamont announcing a $58.6M allocation from the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee to create a new housing initiative for individuals experiencing homelessness and living with opioid use disorder. Joining the Governor in addressing the media were Attorney General William Tong, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Nancy Navarretta, DOH Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, and State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey, as well as Mercy CEO Kara Capone. Thank you, Governor, for your support of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and addiction! hashtag #MercyHousingCT hashtag #CTDMHAS hashtag #CTDOH hashtag #AGTong hashtag #CTGovernor

Community Housing Advocates CEO Kara Capone touts the importance of rapid rehousing for those experiencing homelessness and addiction in the Connecticut Mirror article linked below, which discusses the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee's decision to direct $58.6 million dollars towards a new housing initiative for individuals experiencing homelessness and living with opioid use disorder. #MercyHousingCT hashtag #CTMirror Click on Link to Read Article: https://lnkd.in/eGjuG5Xt

Community Housing Advocates (Mercy Housing and My Sisters' Place) CEO Kara Capone spoke with the media this morning during the CT Nonprofit Alliance news conference held at the Legislative Offices at the State Capitol in Hartford. Capone emphasized the significance of the Alliance's funding priorities as well as the impact underfunding has on CT residents who rely on services provided by nonprofits. Capone is in her first year of a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the CT Nonprofit Alliance.

We are grateful to Key Bank, Avangrid, and Eversource for their combined donation of $19,000 through the Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Tax Credit Program. These funds will help support the installation of solar panels at 118 Main Street, Hartford, which houses Mercy Housing’s residential programs for women in recovery, adults experiencing mental health crisis and those living with HIV/AIDS, as well as the Friendship Center day shelter and soup kitchen/meals program. The NAA Tax Credit Program offers tax incentives to businesses that invest in qualifying community programs run by tax-exempt organizations.?

My Sisters' Place (MSP) is thrilled to announce that the For the Love of Children Initiative (FLOCI) youth program has received additional funding, thanks to the generosity of The Cigna Group. This support will enhance the program’s ability to provide children with greater access to educational resources and enrichment opportunities. The Cigna Group has generously awarded $25,000 to MSP in recognition of the impactful work being carried out through the FLOCI program, which aligns with their mission to address social determinants of health. The FLOCI program serves 75 youth who were formerly homeless and now reside in MSP's supportive housing units. Children who have experienced homelessness often face trauma, struggle with socialization, and encounter challenges in school. FLOCI is designed to provide these children and youth with the critical support they need to build social and emotional resilience. This is achieved through parent engagement, referrals, advocacy, tutoring, and enrichment opportunities. We extend our heartfelt thanks to The Cigna Group for acknowledging the importance of this program and supporting it with such remarkable generosity. Your support means the world to us!

Thank you for believing in the work that both Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation and My Sisters' Place do to help some of the poorest of the poor in Greater Hartford and Middletown. Thanks to your support and dedication to championing our mission to end homelessness, in 2024 our teams were able to: -Serve close to 70,000 meals to those in need -Find housing for 345 homeless individuals and families -Prevent 970 people from becoming homeless -Provide housing for 171 individuals through residential programs -Give 73 formerly homeless children academic support and enrichment opportunities Along with our gratitude, we'd like to share this video with you to show how your support has helped some of those whom we serve: https://lnkd.in/e45BdwJN If you have not made a year-end gift and would like to do so, please click on a link below to make a secure credit card donation. Donate to My Sisters' Place: https://lnkd.in/ezgwb3Gt Donate to Mercy Housing: https://lnkd.in/eeh5wUDN Thank you for partnering with us throughout the year as donors, volunteers, advocates and more. We so appreciate you!

There are just a few days left to vote for Mercy Housing & Shelter Corporation in the Hearst Connecticut Media Group CT Gives contest! Click the link below or scan the QR code to cast your vote today. Voting runs until December 20! https://lnkd.in/eEruK8nk #MercyHousingCT #HearstCTMedia #CTGives2024

Save the Date! Here is a great way to support My Sisters' Place, win a fabulous prize, and hear awesome music! Attend Rock Voices West Hartford's winter concert at Bloomfield High School on Friday, January 10 at 7:30 PM. They will be holding a basket raffle during the event with all proceeds benefitting My Sisters' Place. Your support will greatly help the men, women and children we serve during the cold winter months! Check out the photo below for more information about the event! #mysistersplacect #rockvoiceswesthartford

We want to extend a very special Thank You to the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation for their very generous $30,000 donation to support Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation's Friendship Center. This support is critical in furthering our efforts to address food insecurity by not only helping individuals and households meet their immediate food needs, but also access the supportive services necessary to address some of barriers that prevent them from achieving more long term food security, such as case management services and benefits screenings. Thank you for believing in us JPOFF!