House of Mercy & Grace

Behind every service we provide is a team of caring staff and committed volunteers who believe in serving others and strengthening our community. Our team works together to provide compassionate support, connect individuals and families with vital resources, and help those we serve move toward greater stability and self-sufficiency.

From providing food and housing assistance to supporting workforce development and community outreach, our staff and volunteers bring dedication, compassion, and purpose to everything we do. We are more than a team. We are a community committed to serving with compassion, restoring hope and changing lives.

House of Mercy and Grace is a nonprofit organization devoted to serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability by providing compassionate care, practical support, and pathways to greater self-sufficiency. Founded on March 19, 2012, by Curtrice Bush, the organization was born from a desire to respond faithfully and consistently to the needs of vulnerable individuals in the Chicago community. From the beginning, House of Mercy and Grace has been grounded in the belief that every person deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to rebuild a stable and hopeful future.

Before obtaining a permanent facility, House of Mercy and Grace carried out its mission through direct outreach, street ministry, food distribution, and partnership with local churches and community organizations. By meeting people where they were, the organization built trust, responded to immediate needs, and developed a strong foundation of compassion, consistency, and community collaboration. These early efforts helped establish House of Mercy and Grace as a dependable source of care and support for those facing crisis.

As the organization has grown, House of Mercy and Grace has expanded from outreach-based ministry into a more structured model of service that now includes a facility for case management and supportive services. This growth has created greater opportunities to assist families and single women with children by helping them connect to housing resources, shelter options, referrals, and supportive programming designed to strengthen stability and independence. Clients also have access to services, training opportunities, and events offered at no cost, reflecting the organization's continued commitment to reducing barriers and expanding access to meaningful support.

At its heart, House of Mercy and Grace exists to help individuals and families move from crisis and homelessness toward safe housing, renewed hope, and lasting independence. Every employee contributes to that purpose by serving with professionalism, compassion, and respect. Through these combined efforts, the organization continues to make a meaningful difference in Chicago one person and one family at a time, while welcoming the partnership of volunteers, donors, and community supporters who share in the mission to help end homelessness.

MISSION: We are committed to serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness throughout the City of Chicago by providing compassionate, equitable, and supportive services, advocacy, and resources that promote stability, dignity, self-sufficiency, employment, and permanent housing. We strive to serve each person with respect, empathy, and a deep recognition of their inherent worth.

GOAL:  Our goal is to help individuals and families overcome barriers to stability and build a path toward self-sufficiency. Through housing assistance, food support, workforce development and supportive services, we connect people with the resources and opportunities they need to move forward. We are committed to creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to find stability, achieve independence and build a brighter future. Our goal is simple: Help people move from surviving to thriving. VISION: We envision a stronger, healthier and more compassionate community in which individuals and families have equitable access to safe housing, essential resources, supportive services, and meaningful opportunities for growth and renewed independence. Our vision is to help reduce homelessness and its related hardships by creating pathways that foster dignity, stability, and lasting change.

Core Values: Our core values reflect the principles that guide our service, relationships, decision-making, and daily work. They shape how we care for others, how we work together, and how we remain faithful to the organization’s mission of compassion, dignity, accountability, and hope. We are committed to creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to find stability, achieve independence, and build a brighter future.

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