At New Mercies, our Hosting Ministry provides safe, temporary host homes for children while helping parents get back on their feet. Whether a parent is facing job loss, housing instability, or a mental health crisis, we help keep children safe and out of foster care through hosting.
How Does the Hosting Ministry Work?
A family's journey in our Hosting Ministry begins when a parent calls our support line. A trained volunteer gathers information to determine how we can help. If hosting is a good fit, the volunteer works with staff to connect the family with a Host Family for their children and a Family Coach. The Family Coach walks alongside the parent, providing support, accountability, and access to resources. They also help set a flexible hosting timeline based on the parent's progress toward stability. Hostings can last from one day to a year, averaging 19 days.
During the hosting, parents stay in regular contact with their Family Coach, connect with their children daily, and attend weekly visits. Host Families receive support from volunteers providing meals, transportation, and childcare. Hostings typically end when stability goals are met, but many parents continue engaging with New Mercies, building lasting relationships and working toward long-term stability.
Through our dedicated volunteers, New Mercies helps to prevent child abuse, deflect children from the foster care system, stabilize families, and share the light and hope of Christ with vulnerable families in our community.
You can see our statement of faith by following the link below.
Details
- Referral Sources: Families can self-refer or may be connected to us by social service agencies, homeless shelters, hospitals, drug treatment centers, doctor’s offices, schools, jail chaplains, etc.
- Length of Stay: The average length is 3 weeks, but the length of stay is based on need and can range from a few days to several months.
- Ages: Children & young adults ages 0-20 are eligible.
- Reunification: Approximately 99% of children return to their parents.
"I feel like I have new friends..."
Nyssa*, Parent served by New Mercies (*Name changed to protect privacy)
Request Support
Are you facing a situation that is making it difficult to care for the needs of your children, or do you know of someone who is? We can help!
Where We Serve
Currently, we serve in 12 counties*: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Wabash, Whitley, and Steuben
If you have questions about where we serve, email us at info@new-mercies.org!
*Hosting availability is dependent on volunteer capacity in some counties.
