Meet Miss Sunshine, Meet Edson

The following profiles are part of Tender Mercies’ ongoing profile series, which seeks to give a face to the stories we tell and the lives Tender Mercies seeks to change. Content may include details that some may find triggering or challenging. It is our intention to tell stories of the residents of Tender Mercies with sensitivity and dignity and truth. These are real people who have overcome real challenges, and we hope they inspire you to act and advocate.

Meet Cheryl

“I’m not gonna let [my past] defeat me.”

Just over seven months ago, Cheryl learned something new: how to ask for help. Addicted to drugs for over 40 years, “Miss Sunshine,” as she’s known around her building, is a grandmother, a graduate of First Step Home’s outpatient addiction recovery program, and a resident of Tender Mercies.

“I used to believe my life’s mission was to be an example of what not to do,” says Cheryl. “Now, I want to leave a legacy.”

Today, you can find Cheryl working diligently to better herself. Because of the supportive housing Cheryl received, she has been able to recover from her addiction in security while building and maintaining her sense of self-respect.

“I’m not gonna let [my past] defeat me,” she says.

Your donation will ensure the best possible future for people like Cheryl – people working to grow from their past and achieve their highest level of independence.

“I’m so glad God got me to Tender Mercies. Thank God I’m in a safe place.”

Meet Edson

“Tender Mercies is a community of people who are caring and understanding.”

Edson has a slight frame and a meek voice, as well as an incredible spirit and wonderful sense of humor. He has been a resident of Tender Mercies since 2007 but most recently has made important, meaningful progress in his journey to independence since moving into his new apartment at Slater Hall.

The new space has been a breath of fresh air. The additional independence that comes from not having to share a bathroom and kitchen with 20 neighbors has afforded him a mental clarity critical to his continued recovery. His room is cleaner, his outlook is more positive, and he’s even considering part-time work for the first time in a long time.

“Tender Mercies has given me a home, and a community and stability, rather than the chaos I was used to,” says Edson.

Tender Mercies is honored to be the premiere provider of permanent supportive housing in our region. The wrap-around services we provide have ensured Edson has access to social security benefits, medication, and, above all, dignity.

“Tender Mercies is a community of people who are caring and understanding,” he says.

A Letter from Russ

Dear Friends,

This year’s early Spring mirrors the kind of changes 2024 has already brought to Tender Mercies:

• In January, thirty current residents of Tender Mercies packed their bags and moved across downtown to our newest building, Slater Hall, in Cincinnati’s historic West End.

• In February, we began welcoming more people to the additional units of housing Slater Hall provided.

• And in March, Ed Slater, one of Tender Mercies’ founders, helped to welcome over 100 donors, funders, volunteers and friends to the ceremonial ribbon cutting of Slater Hall.

To put it mildly: Tender Mercies is making important, sustainable progress towards our mission because of your previous support. We are creating housing during a major housing crisis, and we are adding jobs to Cincinnati through the services we provide.

We would never be here today without you. I encourage you to click here to meet two residents of Tender Mercies whose lives have been forever transformed by the security, dignity and community Tender Mercies has provided them.

The need for your support remains great. Over 1,000 people experience the brutality of homelessness each night in Hamilton County. Your support provides a caring home, dignified housing, and essential support services. Together, we create a foundation on which people rebuild their lives and achieve their highest level of independence.

Please, make a meaningful donation to Tender Mercies today.

Your support will make all the difference to those in need.

In Gratitude,

Russell Winters

CEO, Tender Mercies Inc.

More than a Home: Kandy's Story

More than a Home

It’s a Thursday morning when we speak with Kandy to chat about her experience at Tender Mercies. She’s just woken up but she’s excited to tell her story. We’re approaching her third anniversary of her sobriety and she mentions it within moments of starting our conversation.

“I’m working on me, you know?” Kandy asks. “I was miserable [when I was drinking]. It made it hard for me to love myself.”

In addition to childhood neglect, Kandy is a victim of domestic violence and other traumas, making the security she experiences here all the more important to her. People whose lives lack security often cannot work on the factors which led them to experience homelessness.

“This is my home,” she says. “Tender Mercies gave me the stability to work on me. It gave me structure.”

That stability allowed Kandy to kick an almost 30-year drinking habit. Her alcoholism affected all of her personal and professional relationships, and she experienced homelessness multiple times before coming to Tender Mercies.

But with the help of Tender Mercies’ supportive services, Resident Support Workers, and community of residents, Kandy has learned how to love and respect herself. Her sobriety means that Kandy is a completely different person today than when she came here three years ago. According to Tender Mercies staff, Kandy has done a 180-degree turnaround and the joy she is able to express is palpable — not something that would have been said upon her arrival.

That is the transformative power of Permanent Supportive Housing. When individuals are given access to the kind of stability, security, and dignity provided by Tender Mercies, they are give the opportunity to change the trajectory of their life.

Today Kandy enjoys walking and listening to the radio, and spends her days making art and working on herself.

“I made it this far,” she said. “I can go further.”

We cannot wait to see how far Kandy will go, and are proud to be her cheerleaders along the way.

This story has been adapted for the web from our 2023 Annual Report, which can be read in full here.

What is Permanent Supportive Housing?

Tender Mercies primarily provides what is called “Permanent Supportive Housing” (PSH) for adults who have experienced homelessness and who have a documented history of mental illness. But what is it? And who benefits? Read more to find out.

What is Permanent Supportive Housing?

Permanent Supportive Housing is just that – it’s permanent housing for those who have been living on the streets, in shelter, or some other kind of temporary housing. Residents of that housing become permanent members of the community while they recover from experiencing homelessness. Housing is paired with supportive services that seek to seek to help each individual achieve their highest level of independence.

Does PSH work?

Yes! PSH is the “gold standard” for ending homelessness. Research shows that PSH is proven to be the most successful, cost-effective intervention for keeping people housed, while improving health.

Is PSH Shelter?

No. Permanent Supportive Housing differs from shelter, which is a temporary living space intended to ensure individuals experiencing homelessness can ensure their survival.

So people can just live at Tender Mercies forever?

Yes and no. Yes, folks who qualify for PSH will never be asked to leave; however, because the support they receive leads to greater stability, most residents choose to leave after about five years, in order to live more independently. For some residents, Tender Mercies will be their home for the rest of their lives, and it is our honorable duty to provide them with the security, dignity and community they deserve.

Do residents pay rent?

Yes! Residents sign a lease, receive their own key, and pay rent based on a percentage of their income, which is obtained through applying for Medicaid, social security income, and other program benefits. Residents of Tender Mercies never pay more than 30% of their income for housing.

Do residents have to be sober to live in PSH?

Sobriety is neither a requirement nor a prerequisite for housing. This evidence-based “Housing First” method seeks to create a stable environment for people regardless of sobriety so they have the space to confront the issues that led them to experience homelessness in the first place.

Who benefits from PSH?

Everyone. Municipalities focus resources on proven interventions, those experiencing homelessness receive the housing and security they need to survive, and public services like hospitals, jails and the justice system experience less strain from the pain and desperation homelessness proliferates.

New 10-Year Strategic Plan: Same Mission, New Statement

Since 1985, our mission statement has been “Tender Mercies transforms the lives of homeless adults with mental illness by providing security, dignity and community in a place they call home.”

In 2022, Tender Mercies engaged its Board of Trustees, staff, and residents in a comprehensive discussion to create a new 10-year strategic plan. Following guidance from all stakeholders, Tender Mercies is proud to unveil its vision for transforming the lives of people in Greater Cincinnati experiencing both homelessness and mental illness.

This story and more await you. Read more in our 2023 Annual Report

Over the last decade, strategic fundraising, investments and partnerships have given us the ability to serve a larger share of Hamilton County’s population experiencing homelessness. Because of those strategic moves, Tender Mercies is redefining its mission while remaining true to its vision, core values, and unwavering principles. With the evolution of new national best practices in caring for the population we serve, coupled with a growing drug epidemic, the landscape of what we do and how we provide the best service to our clients has changed. It is our responsibility to adjust to meet those needs.

What Tender Mercies does will be changing only in that it will be expanding its capacities.

How Tender Mercies accomplishes that will remain theoretical, temporarily, as we align resources and stakeholders to ensure the success of each additional or expanded program. The wellbeing of every resident and staff member is and always will be priority number one at Tender Mercies, and so these changes are not taken lightly.

Moving forward, the mission of Tender Mercies is stated as:

“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.”

This new emphasis on ensuring each residents achieves their highest level of independence underscores and calls out the principle we’ve always lived by: that progress means something different to each individual; however it transforms our narrative for residents by acknowledging that independence looks different for everyone as well. Put simply: Tender Mercies is rededicating itself to the principle of “from each according to their ability, to each according to their need.” Tender Mercies, with our new mission statement, is acknowledging our abilities are great; that we can do more; and therefore, we are.