In 1988, Father Jerome T. Karcher met a young man who was living on the streets in an abandoned garage. He felt so moved by the young man's situation that he sought out a response to the local concern of homelessness. This was when he began Mercy House.
Now, thirty years later, we provide services to 1,500 at-risk and homeless individuals and families annually throughout six counties in California and Arizona. What started as a dream to serve one of the most vulnerable populations in Orange County has now served over 100,000 homeless individuals.
Mercy House provides dignified housing and comprehensive supportive services to a wide variety of homeless subpopulations including, but not limited to, adult men and women, families, mothers and their children, veterans, chronically homeless individuals, persons living with HIV/AIDS, individuals overcoming substance addictions, and those who are both physically and/or mentally disabled.
We strive to assist our residents in the areas of economic, emotional, and spiritual well-being to enhance self-esteem as well as a sense of pride. We value accountability, integrity, and self-sufficiency. Mercy House is grounded in the belief that every person is born with inherent dignity and that homelessness is an affront to that dignity.
Our Goal is Simple: To end the cycle of homelessness of those who enter our system of care.
Father Jerome T. Karcher, Founder • Tim Clyde, Chair • William E. Baker, Jr. • Gary R. Belz • Mia Bergman • James Brooks • Johnny Bryant • Raymond M. Bukaty • Ariana Burris • Mladen Buntich • Daryl A. Cole • Jeremy Elkins • Paul Julian • Phillip R. Kaplan • Marianne Koshar • Dana Kovach • Richard Lopez • Richard K. Masterson • Heather McNeill • Bryan Pavalko • Jessica Petrillo • Jim Righeimer • Mike Solo • Julie Stark
