Mercy House Living Centers   

Mercy House was founded in 1988 by Father Jerome T. Karcher with a vision to serve those in need in our community. In the belief that every person carries an inherent human dignity, and that homelessness is as an affront to that dignity; our mission, “to be a leader in ending homelessness by providing a unique system of dignified housing opportunities, programs, and supportive services,” drives every action that we take. Since Mercy House opened our first shelter in 1990, we have expanded our programs and developed a complete system of care to meet the needs of the homeless in our community at every level. Today, Father Jerome remains the Chairman of our 25-member Board of Directors. Our first employee, Larry Haynes, remains our first and only Executive Director. Mercy House has a staff of over 500 employees and operates shelters and programs across Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Ventura Counties in Southern California and Maricopa County, Arizona.  Throughout our history, Mercy House’s growth has been fueled by the support of like-minded agencies who recognize the value of human dignity and the importance of restoring stability and self-sufficiency to those in need. Though the shape of Mercy House has changed over the years, from a single transitional shelter serving 10 men at a time, to an organization that spans counties and serves thousands of people each year, our vision remains the same: to end the homelessness of those who enter our system of care.