A Helping Hand for Unhoused Women

NEXT with Marcus Atkinson

Today on Next 2.0 – We are talking to Jennie Hagerty about her work with homeless women in Erie. Many of us in America avert our eyes and turn away when we encounter homelessness. We judge and write off those who find themselves “unhoused”. Not Jennie Hagerty. Jennie sees these women as beautiful people who just need some help to build healthier lives for themselves and their children.

Jennie Hagerty is an impressive community leader. She has been the executive director of the Mercy Center for Women for the past 8 yrs and she has been growing her organization to serve more women in need. She has won awards for her fund raising and last year was named the 2024 Nonprofit Excellence Awards CEO of the Year.

She is recognized around town, and beyond, as a stellar fund-raiser, which is true, in part, because she passionately believes in the work she does to serve people who are not being well served by the social service systems and who are often stigmatized and marginalized

Her most recent accomplishment was the conceptualization, oversight, and fundraising efforts that transformed the vacant Holy Rosary School into an affordable housing and resource hub, the first of its kind in Erie, now named the Mercy Anchor Community Center. To bring that project to fruition she needed to raise four million dollars. She actually raised five and a half million!

She is an Erie native and a Gannon graduate. After listening to the program, if you want to connect with Jennie to volunteer and support the work of the Mercy Center, you can go to their website at mcwerie.org or call 814455-4577.