Latest news with #MercyHouse
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More cowbell, fewer unhoused: Point-in-time homeless count brings goal slightly more into focus
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – They have a tradition at the Brundage Lane Navigation Center: Graduates get a parade. Not the traditional kind. No baton twirlers, no trombones. It's more like a gauntlet of joy, with employees and fellow navigation center residents sending off a fellow homeless center resident to the world of the housed with hoots and cheers. The closest thing to a musical instrument? Cowbell. Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus in Kern County And Navigation Center manager Theo Dues wants more cowbell. 'We're gonna continue to do this work until we see this crisis resolved,' Dues told KGET on a recent tour of the Brundage Lane facility, managed by Mercy House in collaboration with the City of Bakersfield. 'We truly believe that homelessness is a problem that we can solve. Now just manage. That we can actually solve.' What's the holdup? Primarily this: The availability of affordable housing. California has a shortage. There are signs things are improving. Then there's this positive trend. The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative's new point-in-time homeless count reveals a decline in the number of unhoused in Kern County. Not a huge decline – just 2.3 percent from last year's count – but a decline nonetheless. The annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The collected data is used by state and federal governments to determine funding for counties, cities, and local continuums of care, so it's important – important to know not just how many, but who and from what backgrounds. 'Now, within this count and every count, every demographic is represented,' said Lauren Skidmore of the Open Door Network, which runs the Bakersfield Homeless Center. 'There is a very diverse population of homeless individuals.' Never miss a story: Make your homepage The 2025 Count revealed 2,606 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,393 who are unsheltered and 1,213 individuals who have utilized shelters. This is not an exact science, but it's one of the few tools we have. Counting the number of people living in shelters is one thing, but counting those on the street is quite another. And officials with the collaborative say their ability to gather data that can be trusted is at an all-time high – not just because they continue to tweak their techniques, but because they continue to see buy-in from the broader community. 358 volunteers participated in the three-day count, the third straight year of high volunteer participation. That, combined with a more sophisticated counting process and progress in the creation of affordable housing means the likelihood of more navigation center graduation parades. Because we got to have more cowbell. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More cowbell, fewer unhoused: Point-in-time homeless count brings goal slightly more into focus
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – They have a tradition at the Brundage Lane Navigation Center: Graduates get a parade. Not the traditional kind. No baton twirlers, no trombones. It's more like a gauntlet of joy, with employees and fellow navigation center residents sending off a fellow homeless center resident to the world of the housed with hoots and cheers. The closest thing to a musical instrument? Cowbell. Mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus in Kern County And Navigation Center manager Theo Dues wants more cowbell. 'We're gonna continue to do this work until we see this crisis resolved,' Dues told KGET on a recent tour of the Brundage Lane facility, managed by Mercy House in collaboration with the City of Bakersfield. 'We truly believe that homelessness is a problem that we can solve. Now just manage. That we can actually solve.' What's the holdup? Primarily this: The availability of affordable housing. California has a shortage. There are signs things are improving. Then there's this positive trend. The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative's new point-in-time homeless count reveals a decline in the number of unhoused in Kern County. Not a huge decline – just 2.3 percent from last year's count – but a decline nonetheless. The annual count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The collected data is used by state and federal governments to determine funding for counties, cities, and local continuums of care, so it's important – important to know not just how many, but who and from what backgrounds. 'Now, within this count and every count, every demographic is represented,' said Lauren Skidmore of the Open Door Network, which runs the Bakersfield Homeless Center. 'There is a very diverse population of homeless individuals.' Never miss a story: Make your homepage The 2025 Count revealed 2,606 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,393 who are unsheltered and 1,213 individuals who have utilized shelters. This is not an exact science, but it's one of the few tools we have. Counting the number of people living in shelters is one thing, but counting those on the street is quite another. And officials with the collaborative say their ability to gather data that can be trusted is at an all-time high – not just because they continue to tweak their techniques, but because they continue to see buy-in from the broader community. 358 volunteers participated in the three-day count, the third straight year of high volunteer participation. That, combined with a more sophisticated counting process and progress in the creation of affordable housing means the likelihood of more navigation center graduation parades. Because we got to have more cowbell. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Eucharistic Procession makes way through Binghamton
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A group of clergy and Catholic parishioners made a solemn walk through the Westside of Binghamton Thursday morning. A Eucharistic Procession lead by the Reverend Joseph Ryan and the Reverend Cornelius Deep made the walk from Saint Patrick's Church Leroy Street to Rec Park with a stop at Seton Catholic Central along the way. The event began with a brief service at Saint Pat's, after which the participants began their walk with Deep carrying the Eucharist under the cover of a canopy. They then stopped at the school for another service at Seton where they were joined by students from other local Catholic schools. They then completed the procession with the children joining them through Recreation Park. Eucharistic Procession makes way through Binghamton Celebrate Pride Month with an evening of laughter at Schorr Family Firehouse Stage Roosevelt reflects on the legacy of Principal Dave Chilson Mercy House prepares for $2.1 million expansion Upstate Democrats oppose cow limit for dairy farms Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mercy House prepares for $2.1 million expansion
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A local facility that has brought comfort to dying patients and their families is expanding to serve more. The Mercy House of the Southern Tier in Endicott is celebrating the completion of a new 2,500 square foot addition. The new wing includes six bedrooms for residents, bringing the total to 16. There's also an additional nurse's station, storage pantries, and a laundry room. Named after Robert and Catherine McDevitt, the $2.1 million expansion was paid for with foundation support, grants, and individual donations. Executive Director Linda Cerra says the community care center has averaged a six to seven person waiting list over its nine-year existence. 'We have found that care is priceless, and each person that comes through here deserves that respect, dignity, and compassion during their end-of-life journey,' said Cerra. The Mercy House is holding an open house for its new wing this Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. Then on Monday, existing residents will be moved into the new wing so that minor renovations can occur in the original facility before opening up to full capacity. Eucharistic Procession makes way through Binghamton Celebrate Pride Month with an evening of laughter at Schorr Family Firehouse Stage Roosevelt reflects on the legacy of Principal Dave Chilson Mercy House prepares for $2.1 million expansion Upstate Democrats oppose cow limit for dairy farms Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mercy House brings Easter joy to families in Newark
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) — Hundreds of families gathered at The Mercy House in Newark on Tuesday afternoon as volunteers prepared to distribute Easter baskets filled with candy, coloring books, stickers, and other surprises. The event, part of the Archdiocese of Newark's annual Easter Giveaway, aimed to brighten the holiday for families facing financial hardships. More Local News Sandra Nana, a mother of four, was among the recipients. 'I come here today for clothes, like, food and diapers for my twins, babies,' she said. For Nana, who regularly visits Mercy House for essential items, the Easter baskets were a welcome surprise. 'Every Tuesday we come here for dresses and clothes, everything. They surprise us for free, so we say thank you.' The giveaway brought excitement not only to parents but also to the volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure every family left with something special. Cheryl Riley, director of Mercy House, explained the importance of the initiative. 'We want to make sure that the needs of this community are filled so kids don't feel left out,' she said. Nana's children — ages 7, 3, and 3-month-old twins — were at school during the event. She shared her anticipation for their reaction on Easter morning. 'They're going to be very happy when they see the baskets.' For more information on The Mercy House and upcoming events, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
