A year, on purpose. A safe home, and the time to rebuild a whole life.
Real change doesn't happen in a weekend.
Mercy Manor's program runs one year: full-time programming for the first three months, then a gradual transition toward part-time work or school — all built around prayer, structure, and practical skill.
Why a year, and not thirty days? Read the peer-reviewed research behind the model →
A home first — and a real plan for what comes next
Almost every woman who comes to Mercy Manor has lost her housing, or is about to. Often, homelessness arrives tangled up with harder things — drug or alcohol abuse, prescription dependency, the aftermath of an abusive house, depression, a past she didn't choose — but the need underneath is the same: a safe place to live while she rebuilds.
Prayer, Bible study, and real responsibility, every day
Prayer & Scripture
Daily prayer, Bible study, and scripture memorization ground the whole program.
Biblical Counseling
Individual counseling addressing the trauma underneath the crisis, not just the crisis itself.
Life & Leadership Skills
Educational and career counseling, financial management training, and leadership development.
Work & Recreation
Real work assignments build discipline and confidence, balanced with recreation and community.
The faith-based classes are part of the program, not an extra. A woman is not required to share our beliefs to be welcomed here — but she is asked to take part in every class, the faith-based ones included, with an open heart. That expectation is made clear before she ever moves in, so no one is surprised by it later.
One year, in three movements
Foundation, full-time
Programming is full-time: daily prayer and Bible study, biblical counseling, life-skills training, and real work assignments inside the home. Stability comes first — before employment, before school, before anything is asked of her beyond showing up.
Gradual transition outward
As counseling and coursework progress, each woman is encouraged to take part-time employment or begin school — while the daily rhythm of prayer, counseling, work, and community continues underneath. Independence is built gradually, not granted all at once.
A plan, not a goodbye
The program ends; the relationship doesn't. Why aftercare matters — and what the relapse research actually says — is covered honestly in what happens after the program ends.
Why a full year? Board member Karen Kalinka, who built a women's recovery program at Edmonton's Hope Mission, puts it plainly:
"A year gives a woman time to stabilize. Time to heal. Time to learn boundaries, budgeting, conflict resolution, and healthy relationships. Time to practice new habits. Time to rebuild identity. Time to choose a different future." — Karen Kalinka, Board Member
What a day is designed to look like
Mercy Manor has not yet opened, so this is the design, not a diary — exact times are still being finalized. The rhythm below is how the four pillars become an actual Tuesday.
Prayer and Scripture
The day opens with prayer, Bible study, and Scripture memorization — grounding before anything is asked of anyone.
Work assignments
Real responsibility inside the home: kitchen, garden, upkeep. Discipline and confidence are built by doing.
Meals and community
Shared meals at a common table — the ordinary practice of belonging.
Biblical counseling and life skills
Individual counseling that addresses the trauma underneath the crisis, alongside classes in finances, education, and career readiness.
Recreation and rest
Recovery is not only work. Recreation, exercise, and unhurried time are part of the design.
Reflection and closing the day
The house winds down together — reflection, prayer, and an early, consistent rhythm of rest.
Want the fuller picture, hour by hour? Read a day in the life at Mercy Manor.
What we are building toward
Mercy Manor has not yet graduated its first resident, so we won't quote outcomes we don't have. What we can say honestly: Mercy Manor is non-denominational. In the recovery ministries our founder and board led before this one — Sharon King at Sanctified Hope, Karen Kalinka at Hope Mission in Edmonton — they watched structured, Christ-centered residential recovery produce these changes in women's lives. Every element of our one-year program is designed toward the same:
- Godly wisdom to make good decisions
- A stronger sense of social connectedness
- Real self-confidence
- A greater sense of self-worth and optimism
- Valuable skills through education and job training
- The ability to lead, not just follow
- Movement toward self-sufficiency
- Readiness to live in peace and harmony with others
When our first women complete the program, we will report real results here — including what didn't work. See our transparency commitment.
Common questions
Who qualifies for this program?
Adult women with a sincere, demonstrated desire for change who can commit to the full one-year, curriculum-based program. This is a voluntary program, not a court-ordered placement.
What does it cost her to stay?
A woman's first four months cost her nothing — they are covered by scholarships, grants, and donations. From month five, once she is working again, she contributes $500 a month toward her room and the program. There are no hidden fees.
Is this a medical detox program?
No. Mercy Manor is not a medical detox facility or psychiatric treatment program. If medical detox is needed first, our team will help point toward that care.
How does someone apply, or refer a woman?
Women, families, and referring professionals can all start the same way. See Get Help if you're reaching out for yourself or someone you love, or Partner With Us if you're a church, agency, or organization making a referral.