Mercy House Announces 100th Family to Enter Family Redirection Program - Spares Homeless Families with Young Children from the Risks of Staying in Emergency Shelters

    SANTA ANA, CA, April 07, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- 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 it 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.

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.

Under the program, when a homeless family arrives at either armory with children under the age of five, they are fed, and sent to stay in a motel, usually within an hour. Once settled, they are given gas and food vouchers, bus passes, and case management services, with the goal of moving them into permanent housing. The Family Redirection Program is funded by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County.

Haynes found a kindred spirit in Mike Ruane, executive director of the Children and Families Commission of Orange County.

"Mike Ruane stepped up and funded the program when no one else would," said Haynes. "He took a chance on an aggressive response to help homeless families, and because of the Commission, young children are off the streets and out of the armories."

The Children and Families Commission of Orange County provided initial funding of $175,000, based on increasing the expected number of families by 25 percent from the 40 that were served the previous year. Due to the tough economic situation, instead of the expected 50 families, Mercy House has now served its 100th family, with nearly a month still remaining before the close of the Orange County Cold Weather Armory Program on Apr. 30. On Mar. 9, the Commission announced the allocation of an additional $127,000 to see the program through the duration.

"We're committed to our action earlier this year to ensure that no young child spends a night at the armory while emergency shelters are full," said Maria E. Minon, M.D., commission chair. "Without Commission funding, Orange County's 'safety-net' service providers cannot meet the increasing demand of families with young children seeking emergency transitional shelter."

"We were funded and staffed for half the number of families we have actually served to date. Due to the efforts of some very dedicated people, the success of the program surpassed everyone's expectations," Haynes added. "I'd like to thank the Commission for its swift and gracious response, and also the dedicated Mercy House staff that served double the number of families expected. I especially want to recognize Carrie Delaurie, Adriana Hernandez, Michael Malfavon and Valarie Lopez who have kept the program running flawlessly through very challenging circumstances."


Facts about Mercy House Family Redirection Program
* Funding for winter 2008-09: $302,000
* Families served as of March 29, 2009: 100
* Families in permanent housing: 30
* Families in long-term shelter: 20
* Families remaining in program: 21
* Beds provided at Santa Ana armory this winter: 10,892
* Beds provided at Fullerton armory this winter: 10,663

Facts about Mercy House
* Mercy House provides housing for more than 200 people
* Mercy House provides all of its housing and supportive services for approximately $16 per day per person
* Our transitional housing programs successfully move our clients into permanent housing 85 percent of the time
* During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, Mercy House served more than 2,500 different people in our walk-in centers
* Mercy House feeds more than 1000 people per year through our food voucher program
* During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, we prevented homelessness for more than 225 people

About Mercy House
Santa Ana, Calif.-based Mercy House is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that provides housing and comprehensive supportive services for a variety of homeless populations including families, adult men and women, mothers and their children, persons living with HIV/AIDS, individuals overcoming substance addictions, and the physically and mentally disabled. Founded in 1988 by Father Jerome T. Karcher, Mercy House has established Mercy House Center, as well as transitional living facilities including St. Joseph House, Regina House and Emmanuel House. In 2005, Mercy House offered permanent affordable housing for the first time by opening the San Miguel Residence. Mercy House has expanded its services to open three facilities in Ontario, Calif. Guadalupe Residence provides 15 four-bedroom apartments for permanent affordable housing. Assisi House provides nine apartments as transitional housing units. Mercy House also offers a men's residence, Trinity House, in Pomona, Calif. Visit www.mercyhouse.net.

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