FROM THE DESK OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Since returning to Mercer County Better Together (MCBT) as a staff member, my job description has changed, but my dedication to serving my community and upholding the integrity of our organization has consistently remained my top priority. When I first started my journey in the economic and community development field in 2021, I knew very little about what that really meant. Having put in two years of firsthand experience at MCBT and 3 years of serving as a board member, I’ve learned that economic and community development looks differently depending on your region and goals. Building relationships with community champions, local organizations, businesses, and residents has shown me that meaningful progress begins with a listening ear, collaboration, and a shared commitment to making Mercer County a better place to live, work, and grow. 

A main area of focus in the last two years has been our commitment to the needs of those experiencing homelessness in our community. I know what you might be thinking: “There’s no homelessness in Mercer County”. One of the most impactful parts of my work has been hearing the stories of individuals and families navigating housing challenges, each one a reminder that stable housing remains out of reach for too many in our community. For two years, MCBT has hosted Mercer County’s “Night In A Car” fundraising event, which is meant to increase awareness and empathy by offering an opportunity to experience what it’s like for those in our community who do live in a vehicle. Homelessness in a rural community often doesn’t look like what you see on TV or what you’ve experienced in an urban city. Many aren't sleeping on the streets, but instead move from one couch to the next, never knowing where they'll rest their head next.  With the help of local organizations and residents, we’ve been able to sustain a program that has helped people in need stay housed or to help them get housed. MCBT is not alone in this work, and we have an excellent group of partners that we’ve been blessed to work with to help us navigate these cases.

Finding the root cause of each emergency housing request is an important part of identifying the best long-term solution. Some of the most common hardships we see include recent job loss, unexpected medical expenses, new health concerns, or simply being new to Mercer County and still getting established. 

I play a unique role in this work because I also serve as the Mercer County Career Center Coordinator. Once a family's immediate housing needs have been addressed, I can often help them take the next step by connecting them with local employment opportunities and job-seeking resources. The Career Center's weekly newsletter has become a valuable resource for job seekers throughout the county, and several of our partner agencies even print the local job listings to share with the people they serve. It's especially rewarding to hear community members tell me they look forward to receiving the newsletter each week. 

We're also preparing to launch a new toolkit and companion educational series related to this work, designed to help individuals and families build long-term financial stability. I look forward to continuing to support our community, not only by helping people navigate today's challenges, but by equipping them with the resources and opportunities they need to build a more stable tomorrow.