Mercy for the Homeless - The Facts

Today I read some material on the internet that referred to our potential move to mercy as a MEGA SHELTER move. THIS IS A STRETCH (to say the least) AND SIMPLY INACCURATE! Wayside plans to move only our family and women’s programs and our child development center. We are agreeable to cap the number of adults at 250 adults, far less than the Mercy student population when Mercy Academy was in operation. We have also agreed not to move our men’s population which was never in consideration. Our target number will be only 200 adults including parents and single women (most of the young families consist of a single mom with one or two preschoolers). We will also operate a state licensed day care center for the children staying at the facility and for preschoolers we transport in from other shelters in the city (the center typically averages about 45 children).

Surely these children will not be a problem since they will be inside in their class rooms and only out to the courtyard to play. In fact, they will be a blessing to the neighborhood. Likewise the women and mothers will be inside and the intake for these folks will be on our Jefferson Street Campus so that they are transported to and from the site. The mothers and children should not increase street traffic, parking problems, or elevate crime in the neighborhood. Our presence in the area should decrease crime and add diversity to the area.

These women and children will not impact the neighborhood in a negative way on this enclosed campus. These women and children need a respite and the Mercy Campus offers such a respite.