New housing complex opens doors to public

A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by an open house was held June 7th at the Mercy Anchor Community Center in the former Holy Rosary School, located in Erie's upper eastside.

In 2020, the Mercy Center purchased the 39,000-square-foot school building for $300,000 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie which operated the school until 2004. Following a capital campaign which raised nearly $5 million for renovations, the center is now open to provide housing for as many as 32 residents including men, women and children, and support services to the entire Erie community.

The Mercy Center also collaborated with several organizations in the area who are providing services such as primary and behavioral healthcare, GED and workforce preparedness classes, a food pantry and thrift store--services that are available to both tenants and Erie residents from this one location.

MACC is a unique program in northwestern Pennsylvania as it's the only one-stop location for both housing and services to help the region's impoverished get back on their feet.

The Mercy Anchor Community Center was renovated without any debt.

To view photos from the open house, please click here.

Learn more about MACC in this Erie Times-News article.