The Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute class of 2012 kicked off a six-month fund-raising effort for the House of Mercy Thursday night.

The group of 60 will be working to raise $180,000 to go toward the organization, which provides clinical services for women undergoing substance abuse treatment. The House of Mercy offers transitional housing while it works toward helping the women become alcohol- and drug-free, and then moves them into permanent housing.

Last year, about 88 percent of the participants discharged from the program entered permanent housing. For additional information about the project, visit its Facebook page.