The adage - a home is what you make it - will fortunately be ringing true for three families on Long Island in the coming months.

Mercy Haven, a nonprofit agency providing housing and social services, has received approval for an $850,000 loan from the Leviticus Fund. These funds will be used to purchase and renovate two properties in Suffolk County, New York to provide permanent rental housing for three formerly homeless families.

Established in 1985, Mercy Haven is based in Islip Terrace, New York and focuses its work on communities in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Through a network of services which includes housing, Mercy Haven assists limited income families and the elderly who are most vulnerable to homelessness in large part because of Long Island's expensive housing market. Mercy Haven also administers the Long Island Resource Center for individuals living with a traumatic brain injury.

The $850,000 marks Leviticus Fund's first loan to Mercy Haven and our financing is helping to bridge the agency's successful grant writing efforts with the anticipated release of $1 million in funding from the New York State Homeless Housing Assistance Program.

"With the assistance of Leviticus Fund, Mercy Haven has been able to carry out our mission of opening the door of possibility for those most in need," explained Joseph Mercurio, Director of Business Management. "Three families will be offered the opportunity of permanent housing in a safe environment that they can now call home."

Mercy Haven operates three community residences that provide 24-hour supervised care for 34 adults with mental illnesses who are striving toward independent living. It also runs an adult home housing 26 adults who are living with psychiatric disabilities, offering round-the-clock supervision, personal care, meals, housekeeping and laundry services, transportation and daily recreational activities. In addition, there are 126 participants in their Supportive Housing program which offers permanent, affordable housing for low income, disabled and formally homeless people with the help and support they need to stay housed and live more independent, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Mercy Advocacy Program, which was started in 1997, adds another dimension to Mercy Haven's work by providing legal assistance for residents regarding their rightful entitlements for mental health care.

An initial portion of the loan - $344,500 - has been released to Mercy Haven for the Islandia property, which is a 2-story, 3-bedroom house in "almost move in condition." The second property in Patchogue will require more substantial renovations to create a comfortable 2-family home for formally homeless families. To learn more about Mercy Haven's work, visit www.mercyhaven.org

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