Homeless Shelter Renovation

April 2010

From:  Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation

Funds from the City of Hartford, Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and Thibadeau Family Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving are allowing restoration to the front yard at Mercy Housing and Shelter’s Saint Elizabeth House, a transitional housing residence and soup kitchen at 118 Main St. in Hartford.

(Pictured l-r) Sr. Pat McKeon, Mercy executive director; Mayor Eddie Perez; Catherine Mohan, Mercy capital campaign co-chair; John Rossi, chief of staff, Congressman Larson's Office; Sharon O'Meara, Hartford Foundation senior program officer; Phil Barlow, principal, TODesign.

City officials, donors and friends of  Mercy gathered on Tuesday, April 6, to mark the start of renovations that will remove a four foot high retaining wall that has become an eyesore and structurally unsound.  Renovations will restore the front yard to its appearance when the home was built in 1807.

The site is a National Historic Landmark, having been the residence of Henry Barnard, who lived large parts of his life there, having both been born and died in the residence.  Barnard was the first U.S. Commissioner of Education and stimulated the growth of the public school system as an essential element of American democracy.

Upon his death, the facility was acquired by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit and then Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation.  It currently serves as a residence for 58 adults, who would otherwise be homeless. The facility also serves as a community kitchen for the south end of Hartford.  Consumers have access to two meals a day, case management services, a healthcare clinic operated by the Charter Oak Health Center, a jobs center and a clothing resource.

Renovations will include restoring a graduated lawn from the residence to Main Street that was prevalent in the neighborhood in the 1800s. The restoration will allow for handicapped access to the facility from Main Street and exterior lighting to highlight significant features of the residence.

This restoration is one of several phases that are planned for the facility to remove the structure from the National Park Service’s watch list.  Subject to sufficient funds being raised, plans call for repointing the exterior brick façade, window replacements, an addition and elevator to make the building handicapped accessible, improvements to the community and public assembly spaces, dining areas and residence wing, along with bringing building systems up to current building codes.