Kids We Serve
Young people ages 11+ come to live in the youth residential program at Mercy Home in pursuit of a different vision for their lives. They seek a way forward from suffering, desperation, and poverty. They seek hope, opportunity, and success. In the safety and stability of Mercy Home’s care, they are finally able to focus on school, heal from the traumas of the past, develop essential personal skills, build healthy relationships, and cultivate responsibility. In short, young people come to live at Mercy Home to realize their full human potential.
The struggles that our young people encounter within their families or their communities are not exclusive to any particular race, geographic region, or economic class. Some come to us from middle class, suburban communities. But many grow up in Chicago neighborhoods where violence, gangs, crime, and lack of opportunity are all too commonplace. These challenges place extra stresses on families and can endanger a child’s health and development.
If you are a young person interested in living at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Please call (312) 738-7590.
THE TRUTH IS, WITHOUT THE RIGHT SUPPORT, TOO MANY KIDS CAN FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS:
Though young people come to us largely come from metro Chicago, some also come from other states and countries. Mercy Home accepts children who are referred to us from families, schools, the Department of Children and Family Services and others. Because we are committed to helping every child who comes to us in crisis, we can also assist those who fall outside of our age range or who have challenges that are beyond our scope by offering them an assessment and a referral to an organization that can offer the help that’s most appropriate for their specific needs. That’s why a call to Mercy Home could save a child’s life, even if that child never comes to live with us.
Alyssa’s Story
Alyssa couldn’t tell you when she learned what neglect was. It had been happening for as long as she could remember. As she grew up, Alyssa became a loner. She never succeeded at much of anything. She didn’t know she was supposed to. But now, she’s passing all of her classes this semester, and hoping to get even better marks next year.
