Mercy House

Changing the world one family at a time.

Adult Services

The Adult Services Program at Mercy House is designed to assist adults living in the shelter to attain self-sufficiency through service coordination and goal setting.

 

Job Readiness

When adults come to the shelter and are not working, the Adult Service Coordinator (ASC) works with the adult to create a resume highlighting their skills and qualifications.  The adult is then put into intensive job searching.  The ASC will assist the adult with job leads, interviewing tips, clothing, and transportation.

Job Placement

The ASC currently works with two area businesses, Wetsel, Inc. and Morningstar Foods, to refer qualified applicants for positions.  The long-term goal is to build a database of employers who are willing to accept applicants of Mercy House above other applicants for available positions.

Job Retention

Once a resident has found employment, the ASC works with the client to eliminate barriers to job retention.  This could include childcare, transportation, or clothing.  The ASC uses other resources, such as the Child Service Coordinator at Mercy House, the Department of Social Services, Way to Go, Inc., and Mercy House funds to assist the resident in gaining these things in order to keep their employment.

Budgeting and Savings

At Mercy House, budgeting is done two ways.  It is either completed individually in weekly meetings with the client by the ASC, or it is completed with periodic budgeting classes, taught by the ASC or by a qualified community volunteer. Mercy House is fortunate to have the Money Smart© Curriculum designed by the FDIC to use when teaching budgeting.  Budgeting is one of the core elements of the Mercy House Program.  Nearly 80% of residents are here because they are unable to pay rent, therefore, to obtain employment and budget their money is the most important thing.  

Families must save at least ½ of their income in the Mercy House Savings Account while living here.  The ASC will create a household budget with the family to identify prior bills owed and current expenses to determine an amount that the client is responsible for saving each month.  They will save the money that they would otherwise be spending on rent, utilities, and living expenses.  The resident will work on paying off old debts and cleaning credit, while saving at Mercy House.  All Mercy House Residents receive a copy of their credit report from one of the 3 credit reporting agencies.  The goal of the savings program is to have enough money to pay first months rent and rent and utility deposits. We also want the family to have at least a month’s rent in saving for an emergency.  Once the family has saved this much money, they are encouraged to look for housing

Goal Setting

Goal setting is completed through a weekly planning meeting.  These meetings are designed to help residents think about their goals, set them, and meet them.  The staff at Mercy House does not set goals for residents.  Only the resident knows where their family is going.  What the ASC does is guide the resident to the places that can help them reach their goals.  For example: If a resident wants to be a nurse, but doesn’t have a HS diploma, the ASC would assist the resident in figuring out what they need to do to obtain their goal.  The ASC would enroll the resident in GED classes.  Then the ASC would point the resident to agencies that provide on the job training for CNA’s.  There are many small steps that need to be taken in order to reach a larger goal.  The ASC’s responsibility is assisting the resident in identifying and completing those steps.  

Counseling

Each family that comes to Mercy House is experiencing transition.  This can cause physical and emotional stress.   The adults in all families are required to attend counseling while at Mercy House.  Mercy House partners with Crossroads counseling to provide this service at little to no cost for the resident.  

Mercy House is also fortunate to have a partnership with the Psychology Department at James Madison University.  The doctorate program provides Mercy House with two students each semester who come to Community Dinner on Thursday nights and lead a Group Self-Awareness Session.  This is a time that the residents can get together as a group, encourage each others progress, celebrate successes and talk about common issues.  “The Group” has been instrumental in instilling a sense of community among residents.  We see the residents applauding each other’s successes, helping each other with goal reaching, and watching each other’s children when circumstances arise.  One resident told us, “It is good to know your neighbors”. 

Parenting

Parenting classes are offered through Rockingham Memorial Hospital’s Health Source.  This is a 14 week class for which Mercy House pays, thanks to Rockingham Memorial’s generous discount to Mercy House.  Residents attend the class that is appropriate for their children’s age.  Before class starts, those in attendance are given pizza for dinner.  While the parents go to their class, the children go to either daycare or activities offered through The Boys and Girls Club.  

VIDA

“VIDA (Virginia Individual Development Accounts) is a program administered through the Department of Housing and Community Development in conjunction with the VA Department of Social Services.  It is a special savings program that helps eligible individuals gain financial literacy skills and build assets.  For every dollar the participant saves in a designated account, VIDA will match it with two dollars (match amounts cannot exceed $4,000).” The participant must meet income and family size guidelines and be saving for one of three goals (homeownership, entrepreneurship, post-secondary education).  Mercy House’s ASC wrote and was awarded the grant to become an intermediary.  Intermediaries take the applications for individuals, teach the financial literacy classes, and monitor the individuals’ progress in the program.  Savers have 2 years to complete their goal.  Currently Mercy House has 3 enrolled savers; one has completed her goal and is finishing her required courses before beginning to look for a home to purchase.

For more information contact Amanda@themercyhouse.org