City Of West Palm Beach Welcomes Henry Mercy To Homeless Engagement Team

West Palm Beach FL

07 April, 2021

7:14 PM

Description

From City of West Palm Beach: April 7, 2021 As part of its ongoing efforts to assist those who are homeless, the City of West Palm Beach Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) has hired Henry Mercy as its newest homeless outreach specialist. In his new role, Henry will be responsible for engaging with West Palm Beach's homeless population to connect them with the organizations and/or resources they need to combat mental health challenges, substance abuse, and secure stable housing. In conjunction with Marcus Laws, the city's homeless services coordinator, Allie Severino, homeless outreach specialist, and the staff at the Vickers House, Henry will help further extend the department's homeless outreach efforts throughout West Palm Beach, strengthen existing partnerships with local non-profits, and create new opportunities for future collaborations. "We are pleased to welcome Henry to the City of West Palm Beach's homeless outreach team," said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. "Mr. Mercy's extensive experience working with homeless and at-risk individuals will prove most valuable in our ongoing efforts of providing housing stability and relief resources to our homeless population." Through its HCD, the City of West Palm Beach works to enhance the quality of life for its residents through the development of housing, social and economic opportunities. The department creates opportunities to support and empower low-income households and neighborhoods. The department also manages the Vickers House, a resource and assistance center offering the community a compassionate place to receive information, referrals, and counseling. Through its homeless services outreach team, the City of West Palm Beach, with its partners, regularly engages with individuals who are homeless to connect them with programs and services. Henry will support these outreach efforts. In 2020, the City of West Palm Beach: Assisted more than 360 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness; Provided mental health services to more than 130 individuals experiencing homelessness; Helped nearly 70 individuals reconnect with loved ones through the department's Homeward Bound program; and Placed more than 60 people in emergency shelters or stable housing. Henry Mercy joins the city with more than 15 years of experience in case management, human services, financial literacy and career development. Prior to joining the City of West Palm Beach, he worked at the Urban League of Palm Beach County for four years, most recently as a case manager and CINS/FINS & TOP facilitator. Prior to his role at the Urban League, he spent a decade at Adopt-a-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc. as a case manager. Henry is fluent in both English and Haitian Creole, which will be key to the city's outreach to its non-English-speaking Haitian community. For more information about the City of West Palm Beach's homeless outreach efforts, please visit www.wpb.org/HCD or call (561) 822-1250 (TTY: 800-955-8771). This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.