Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation provides housing assistance and supportive services to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Greater Hartford and Middlesex County. Mercy works to empower its clients to become independent, so they may live and work with dignity and respect. Mercy seeks to end homelessness by advocating for changes in the social systems that perpetuate homelessness. Mercy welcomes and serves all in need, in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, who founded the organization in 1983.   Mercy’s programs include: Supportive Housing Services, providing tenant-based rental assistance and supportive case management services to individuals and families at 153 scattered-site apartments; The Residence at St. Mary’s Home, a supported apartment program for 12 individuals with chronic mental health conditions; Shelter Diversion and Rapid Re-Housing services and St. Elizabeth House, a multi-service center home to people living with HIV/AIDS and co-occurring conditions; women in recovery from substance abuse; adults experiencing mental health crisis and Veterans as well as the Friendship Center Day Shelter and Meals Program (Soup Kitchen) and Jumpstart to Jobs program. In the past year, Mercy served 3,100 unduplicated clients.