House of Mercy Homeless Center commemorates 30 years of service

The House of Mercy Homeless Center is recognizing thirty years of service to women, children and families with an anniversary celebration and open house on Wednesday, August 19, 5-7 pm, 320 Lincoln St., Janesville.

The House of Mercy is a 25-bed homeless center that provides homeless families with short-term emergency shelter and access to housing, job placement and child care resources. Since opening in 1996, the center has provided shelter and support to more than 9,300 individuals, many of whom were children.

"I was making rounds late one evening at Mercy Hospital," said Javon Bea, President/CEO of Mercyhealth. "When I visited the ER, I overheard a mother with two small children. The receptionist asked for her address, and the mother said she didn't have an address because they lived in her car. "I talked to the City of Janesville and local nonprofits and learned there was no homeless shelter in Janesville. Several told me there were no homeless people in Janesville. Now, 30 years later, the center has been full nearly every night."

Guests at the open house will be able to tour the facility and learn more about the services offered at the homeless center.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the House of Mercy Charity Ball, the center's signature fundraiser scheduled for October 10.

With the generous support of our community, the House of Mercy will continue to provide housing and crucial resources to those in need. Money raised from the Charity Ball will provide homeless families with individualized success planning, rent deposits, education expense assistance, transportation, child care assistance and other needs.