OUR MISSION
Tender Mercies transforms the lives of homeless adults with mental illness by providing a community where residents can achieve their highest level of well-being.
Our History
In 1985, hundreds of individuals with mental illness were trying to survive on the streets of Over-the-Rhine due to a lack of sufficient support programs. The psychiatric beds in Hamilton County were reduced from 4,000 to 400, with the belief that the patients could live on their own in the community with support programs, leaving these men and women desperate, hungry, and isolated with nowhere to go. Fr. Chris Hall and two other clergymen, Randy La Fond and Edward Slater, knew they must do something. Tender Mercies began with these clergymen helping Betty and Maude, two women released from the hospital with nothing but cab fare to a shelter.
They secured an apartment for them, applied for their Social Security benefits, and helped them get medical treatment. Sadly, within months, one of the women was brutally raped and the other murdered. Determined to prevent this from happening to others, they became the building managers and saved the lives of 12 more women. Over the past 40 years, Tender Mercies has saved the lives of over 2,500 homeless adults with mental illness from a life of barely surviving on the streets - hungry, cold, and alone.
With the support of many compassionate donors and funders, Tender Mercies has grown to six buildings located in Over-the-Rhine and the West End. Each year, nearly 200 homeless men and women with mental illness rebuild their lives in their home at Tender Mercies. Some of these individuals have been homeless for years, living on the streets, under bridges and in other places unfit for human habitation. Others were successful business professionals whose mental illness turned their lives upside down.
WHO WE ARE
Vision
To be the premier provider of permanent supportive housing for homeless adults with mental illness.
Purpose
Tender Mercies purpose is to provide housing and supportive services for homeless adults with the histories of severe mental illness. Our permanent supportive housing model addresses the root causes of homelessness, thereby preventing a return to the streets for our region's most vulnerable persons.
Compassion drives us to create Security, Dignity, and Community
We believe in the opportunity to thrive and grow
Transformation inspires us and brings hope and promise
We are Tender Mercies. Making Home Possible Every Day
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At Tender Mercies, one of our core values is that our differences make us stronger. We are proud to embrace diversity and equity in a serious way and our workforce demographics reflect the population that we serve. With over 80% of our leadership team comprised of minorities, we are proud to not only talk the talk about DEI, but walk the walk. Support staff are given opportunities to improve skills and rise to higher positions within the organization, thereby contributing to greater social equity within Greater Cincinnati.
We regularly partner with businesses big and small to fund our Permanent Supportive Housing programs, and welcome diverse volunteer groups, from religious organizations to alumni groups and individuals who just want to make a difference.
Our Commitment to Social Equity
Greater Cincinnati faces a shortage of 40,000 housing units. For those who have become homeless, accessing housing is that much more difficult. For those with chronic, severe mental illness like the populations we serve, the dream of finding and sustaining a home or apartment is near impossible.
Tender Mercies provides Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) to homeless adults with mental illness. This housing model, PSH, known as the gold standard for solving and ending homelessness, allows individuals the security, dignity and community they need -- that everyone needs and deserves -- to address the issues that led them to become homeless in the first place. We provide housing as well as wrap-around services that give residents access to benefits and resources that allow them to reclaim their independence and achieve their highest level of self-efficacy.
We are committed to impacting the social makeup of Greater Cincinnati by creating permanent housing solutions that keep people from becoming homeless again, and allow safe, secure access to the dignified housing they deserve.
LOCATIONS
Main Office
27 West 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-721-8666 Phone
513-639-7037 Fax
HARKAVY HALL
DANA HOTEL
spaeth-kelly HALL
PSH2
SLATER HALL
PLEASANT STREET
THE 821 FLATS
Board of Trustees
STAFF
SENIOR Team
Russell Winters
Chief Executive Officer
rwinters@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7054
Stacy Lutz
Human Resource Director
srlutz@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7026
Kelli Halter
Chief Operating Officer
khalter@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7020
Josh Burgess
Facilities Management Director
jburgess@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7022
Karen Newman
Finance Director
knewman@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7030
deanna hengge
Director of Advancement and Engagement
dhengge@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7021
darlene guess
Support Services Director
dguess@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7035
Management Team
Tori Dixon
Income and Benefits Manager
tdixon@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7040
John Drummonds
Compliance Coordinator
jdrummonds@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7053
Rudy Frank
Volunteer Coordinator
rfrank@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7027
Christina Broadnax
Property Manager
cbroadnax@tendermerciesinc.org
513-446-3120
Chris Uihlein
Development Coordinator
cuihlein@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-0559
Tyra Singer
Service Coordinator
tsinger@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7046
KATHY SVENSSON
Housing After Care Manager
ksvensson@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-0540
nikkita Cromwell
Moving On Engagement Strategist
ncromwell@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-3710
Open position
Substance Use Disorder Peer Support Specialist
Bernita Ector
Weekend RSW Supervisor
bector@tendermerciesinc.org
Dominique Hutson
2nd Shift Supervisor - 821 Flats
dhutson@tendermerciesinc.org
513-873-4349
Crystal Wimzie
Communications Coordinator
cwimzie@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7047
Andrea Brunner
Service Coordinator - 821 Flats
abrunner@tendermerciesinc.org
513-513-620-7915
Georgia Clark
Income and Benefits Specialist
gclark@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7042
Stacey Witherspoon
Lead Service Coordinator
switherspoon@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-7033
Redonica Jackson
Second Shift Supervisor
rjackson@TenderMerciesInc.org
513-639-7052
Cindy Fox
12th Street Supervisor & ADLS Coach
cstephens@tendermerciesinc.org
513-513-639-7052
Chris D’Amore
Compliance, IT, and Data Analytics Specialist
cdamore@tendermerciesinc.org
513-639-1025
Resident Support Workers
Shaun Griffin
Dana Hotel
Tamika Keys
Dana Hotel
Mitchell Masters
PRN
Robert Smith
Harkavy Hall
Terrence Forte
821 Flats
Janet Turner
821 Flats
Cheryl Ramsey
Dana Hotel
Terence Dardy
Harkavy Hall
AMANDA HINES
Spaeth & Kelly Hall
Mitzi Lindsey
Slater Hall
Victor Medley
Dana Hotel
Shonnay Smith
Slater Hall
Unique Willaims
Slater Hall
Tonia Allen
Harkavy Hall
Tiwanda Delaney
Dana Hotel
Robin Johnson
821 Flats
Antoinette Lowe
821 Flats
Wilbert Smith
Slater Hall
Janice Foster
ADLS Coach
Alexis Harris
Dana Hotel
Latonya Benford
Harkavy Hall
Maintenance Crew
Thomas Luning
Harry Tate
Kevin Walker
Jeffrey Wright