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Mercy Haven Inc
islip terrace, NY · EIN 112783877 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE L200 · Housing & Shelter · Large ($10M-$50M) · mercyhaven.org
revenue
$10.9M
expenses
$10.8M
net assets
$4.7M
employees
141
volunteers
128
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

From a humble beginning in Bay Shore in 1985 as a provider of housing for adults living with mental illness, our housing programs now also include the elderly, limited income families with children as well as persons with special needs and veterans. Mercy Haven has grown throughout its 39 years to become a multifaceted community resource. we have brought services to both Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York and are dedicated members of the communities we serve. in addition to the housing programs described in part III of this form, Mercy Haven operates the following programs: Pleasant gardens adult home provides a home and personal care for 26 older adults who are unable to live independently. Pleasant gardens is licensed by new York state department of health and provides residents with services that include cooking, cleaning, laundry service, and medication management that are provided by staff who are on-site 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Visits from a medical doctor and oth

profile · synthesized from sources

Mercy Haven Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Islip Terrace, NY, that provides supportive housing and essential services to individuals and families facing homelessness, mental illness, poverty, and disability. Since 1985, it has expanded to serve over 400 people annually across Nassau and Suffolk Counties through permanent and transitional housing, legal advocacy, life skills training, and community integration programs. The organization also addresses health-related social needs via New York's Medicaid Waiver program and operates outreach initiatives including a food pantry and community garden.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.91M
    mercy haven operates 3 community residences which are licensed by the NY State Office of Mental Health and provide care 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for a total of 34 adults. a community residence provides the opportunity for individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness to develop existing skills and learn new skills for independent living in a supportive, structured, yet home-like setting. during their stay, which averages approximately 3 years and 7 months, residents work with staff to develop personalized care plans containing goals that will help them to live more independently. Skills residents work to develop include, cooking, cleaning, socialization, medication management, budgeting, community integration, job readiness assessments and use of public transportation.
  2. #2 $1.53M
    mercy haven, inc. was awarded 75 section 8 housing assistance vouchers through the U.S. department of housing and urban development mainstream program. this application was submitted in cooperation with the community development corporation of long island as the lead agency. the community development corporation of long island monitors and awards these vouchers to persons who are aged or living with a disability. this gives citizens the ability to rent affordable housing of their choice.
named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

Breakthrough Program
12-week, 24-session mentorship and life skills program for homeless and formerly homeless individuals, covering budgeting, job readiness, conflict resolution, and self-esteem; 311 graduates as of January 2025.
Community Food Pantry
Provides groceries and household essentials to food-insecure individuals and families in partnership with Long Island Cares and Island Harvest.
Community Residences
Three state-licensed residences providing 24/7 supportive housing for 34 adults with mental illness, focusing on skill-building for independent living through personalized care plans.
HEALI Medicaid Waiver Services
Provides housing navigation, tenancy supports, and care coordination for Medicaid members to address social determinants of health including housing instability and food insecurity.
Mercy Advocacy Program (MAP)
Legal advocacy service protecting low-income individuals from civil legal emergencies such as benefit terminations, evictions, and utility shut-offs; handled over 3,200 cases from 1997–2023.
Pleasant Gardens Adult Home
State-licensed adult home offering personal care and housing for 26 elderly residents, with on-site staff providing cooking, cleaning, laundry, medication management, and medical coordination.
REAP (Recovery, Enrichment, and Achievement Program)
Life skills and enrichment program offering classes in financial literacy, health & fitness, and personal development to residents and community members.
Speakers Bureau
Offers educational presentations on mental health, homelessness, poverty, and disability to schools, faith groups, and civic organizations to reduce stigma and promote inclusion.
“Growing Together” Community Garden
Garden at Pleasant Gardens Adult Home where residents and volunteers grow fresh produce for consumption and donation; 10% of harvest supports local food pantries.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Self-Sufficiency Empowerment Workshops 2 activities
    • Offering life skills and financial education programs
      Offers REAP (Recovery, Enrichment, and Achievement Program) classes and events focused on life skills, community engagement, financial education (including budgeting, debt management, and planning), and health and fitness activities such as yoga to support well-being and personal growth.
    • Running the Breakthrough outreach and education program
      Operates a 12-week, 24-session outreach and education program for homeless and formerly homeless individuals, with 311 graduates as of January 2025 who attended at least 22 sessions. Supports graduates in securing stable housing, employment, and access to higher education.
  • Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
    • Advocating for policy change in mental health and housing funding
      Participated in Legislative Day in Albany on March 4, 2026, advocating for increased state funding for mental health housing programs.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Conducting community education and public awareness initiatives
      Delivers community education presentations through a Speakers Bureau featuring staff, board members, and volunteers to raise awareness about homelessness, poverty, and mental health. Publishes "The Window" newsletter to share organizational and community updates.
  • Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
    • Delivering comprehensive support and case management services
      Provides eligibility screenings, care coordination, and personalized navigation to connect individuals with resources for stability, including housing and food security. Supports residents through legal aid, having opened over 3,200 civil legal cases between 1997 and 2023.
  • Section 8 Housing Voucher Administration 1 activity
    • Facilitating access to affordable housing through federal vouchers
      Secured 75 Section 8 housing vouchers through HUD’s Mainstream Program to assist low-income individuals who are elderly or living with disabilities in renting affordable housing.
  • Supportive Housing for Mental Illness 1 activity
    • Operating supportive housing programs for individuals in crisis
      Provides temporary and permanent housing and essential support services to more than 400 individuals, including veterans, disabled persons, low-income families, and the elderly, across 65 managed housing sites. Operates three state-licensed community residences offering 24/7 supportive housing for 34 adults with mental illness, emphasizing skill development for independent living.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Providing food security services through pantries and gardens
      Operates a community food pantry distributing essential groceries and household items, and grows food through a community garden that provides fresh produce to participants and donates 10% of its harvest to local food pantries.
  • Published Narrative Projects 1 activity
    • Publishing participant-centered storytelling materials
      Published books including "Through Their Eyes," featuring stories and artwork by Mercy Haven participants, and "The Heart of Mercy" by Sister Pat Griffith, to amplify lived experiences and promote organizational mission.
  • Public Benefits Navigation and Enrollment 1 activity
    • Securing systemic legal victories to expand public benefits access
      Secured a class-action victory in Graves v. Doar, resulting in over $150 million annually in increased Food Stamp benefits for 115,000 low-income individuals in New York State.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$10.87M
Contributions & grants$6.70M62%
Program service revenue$4.04M37%
Investment income$61K1%
Other revenue$71K
expenses
Total expenses$10.76M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$4.86M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$19.37M
Cash$2.15M
Investments$1.04M
Liabilities$14.62M
Net assets$4.74M
Liquid reserves3.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Sister Pat Griffith Executive Dir. 38 $264K
John Murray CFO 38 $140K
Donna Donaghy Assoc. Exe. Dir 38 $132K
Lori Etheridge Dir. of Finance 38 $114K
Gregory Mangini Dir. of Facilities 38 $101K
board members · 14
  • Anthony Lauto — Board member
  • Bita Mir — Board Member
  • Domenico Ciaccio — Vice Chair
  • Fred Brendel — Secretary
  • Jim Digiovanni — Board member
  • Louise Regnante — Board member
  • Mark Sandberg — Board member
  • Melissa Marius-Burke — Board Member
  • Pat Collins — Chairperson
  • Pat Hickey — Board member
  • Patricia Rykert — Board member
  • Paul Conefry — Board member
  • Ron Eagar — Treasurer
  • Tom Quigley — Board member
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Association for Community Living Partner — Hosted Legislative Day in Albany, which Mercy Haven participated in to advocate for mental health housing funding.
  • Ciara Jensen Partner — Contact person for community education class suggestions and speaker requests.
  • Community Development Corporation of Long Island Partner — Collaborated with Mercy Haven to apply for and administer Section 8 housing vouchers for elderly and disabled individuals.
  • Graves v. Doar Partner — Class-action lawsuit led by Mercy Haven’s legal team to secure increased Food Stamp benefits for low-income individuals in New York State.
  • Island Harvest Partner — Partner organization supplying food for the Community Food Pantry.
  • Long Island Network — Serves individuals across Long Island through housing and support services.
  • Long Island Cares Partner — Partner organization supplying food for the Community Food Pantry.
  • New York State Government — Participates in New York State's 1115 Medicaid Waiver through HEALI to support Medicaid members.
  • Patrick T. Collins Partner — Chairperson of the Mercy Haven Board of Directors, providing leadership and governance.
  • Pleasant Gardens Adult Home Partner — Hosts the Growing Together Community Garden on its premises in Bayport.
  • Sister Kathy Nolan Partner — Co-founder and key collaborator in establishing Mercy Haven.
  • Sister Kathy Nolan Partner — Co-founder of the Breakthrough program alongside Mercy Haven
  • Sisters Patricia Griffith and Kathleen Nolan Partner — Co-founders who led the initial effort to establish Mercy Haven in 1985
  • St. Patrick’s Parish Partner — Hosted the Hospitality Center where Mercy Haven's advocacy began.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Collective Advocacy for Systemic Change
    methodology: collective_advocacy
    By uniting with other organizations to advocate for increased public funding and policy reform, Mercy Haven addresses root causes of homelessness and mental health service gaps, because sustainable change requires structural intervention beyond direct service.
  • Housing First with Advocacy and Skill Building
    methodology: housing_first_with_advocacy
    By offering housing without preconditions and combining it with life skills development and mentorship, the organization promotes dignity and long-term independence, because stable housing enables engagement in personal growth and employment pathways.
  • Integrated Response to Social Determinants of Health
    methodology: social-determinants-of-health
    By addressing housing instability, food insecurity, and civil legal needs within a single care model, Mercy Haven improves health outcomes and reduces systemic barriers, because health is shaped by interconnected social and structural factors.
  • Stigma Reduction through Storytelling and Education
    methodology: stigma_reduction_through_storytelling_and_education
    By amplifying participant voices through published stories, artwork, and community presentations, the organization reduces public stigma around mental illness and poverty, because firsthand narratives foster empathy and shift public understanding.
  • Supportive Housing as Foundational Intervention
    methodology: supportive_housing
    By providing safe, long-term supportive housing integrated with individualized care planning, Mercy Haven produces stability and improved outcomes for adults with mental illness, because housing security is a prerequisite for recovery and skill development.