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Our History

Row of houses

Our Story: A Mission Born from Compassion

In 1985, Mercy Haven was founded in Bay Shore, Long Island, when Sisters Patricia Griffith and Kathleen Nolan, alongside a dedicated group of citizens, came together to prevent 116 residents of the Baybright Hotel from losing their homes. Recognizing the urgent need for stable housing, they established Mercy Haven—a nonprofit organization committed to providing safe, supportive housing for individuals living with mental illness.

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What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a multifaceted community resource serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Today, Mercy Haven remains deeply embedded in the communities it serves, expanding its reach and impact while staying true to its founding mission of offering hope, stability, and opportunity to those in need.

  • 1985
    Mercy Haven is founded by a group of concerned citizens as a not-for-profit agency to prevent the 116 residents of the Baybright Hotel in Bay Shore, NY from losing their home.
  • 1989-1990
    Opened the first housing offered by Mercy Haven — Community Residences — to provide housing and services to 34 individuals diagnosed with mental illness who were referred from clinics, families, and state hospitals.
  • 1991
    Thanks to funding from the NYS Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP), Mercy Haven launches H.E.A.R.T.H.: Healed, Encouraged, and Renewed Through Housing. This supported housing program began by providing for 8 individuals in scattered sites not owned by Mercy Haven.
  • 1996
    In November, Mercy Haven launches R.E.A.P. — Residential Empowerment and Achievement Program — offering residents education, recreation, job training and part-time employment opportunities.
  • 1997
    In November, the Mercy Advocacy Program (MAP) opens, serving as a law office for the poor and assisting Mercy Haven residents in civil legal issues. MAP has since expanded to include training and consultation to staff of mental health agencies throughout Long Island, New York State and beyond.
  • 1998
    Purchased Pleasant Gardens Adult Home, an historic home in Bayport, which offers a warm, home-like atmosphere and round-the-clock assistance to 26 adults who need assistance with their daily living activities.
  • 2007
    Mercy Haven’s impact continued to expand beyond Mercy Haven’s walls with the launch of Breakthrough, an education and outreach program offered to homeless individuals and those at risk for homelessness.
  • 2008
    Through MAP, Mercy Haven wins landmark legal decision Graves v. Doar, awarding retroactive food stamp benefits to more than 118,000 households in New York State, including residents of Mercy Haven’s Community Residences.
  • 2010
    Mercy Haven celebrates its 25th Anniversary and opens its first home that’s a completely brand-new construction in Patchogue.
  • 2011
    Mercy Haven is awarded $2,435,000 from New York States Homeless Housing Assistance Corporation for the purchase of 4 new homes that will house 5 families currently living in homeless shelters.
  • 2012
    Created and opened the Growing Together Community Garden.
  • 2014
    On August 13, a record-setting 13 inches of rain fell within a few short hours inflicting significant damages on several of our properties, totaling $350,000 to repair.
  • 2015
    Enhanced our existing supported employment program to create a more formal program with the aim of securing part time employment for our residents in the community. Also in 2015, we collaborated with MercyFirst to provide a group home for children coming from across the border.
  • 2016
    Construction began in Central Islip on a new housing project – 2 two-story buildings to support 2 low-income families and 20 homeless individuals.
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