The Arc Mercer and HomeFront Launch New Community Partnership

The Arc Mercer is proud to begin a new partnership with HomeFront focused on an important challenge facing our community: better identifying and supporting people experiencing homelessness who may also have an intellectual or developmental disability.

The two organizations are launching a small pilot designed to explore whether individuals with potential developmental disabilities can be identified earlier and connected more effectively with the services and supports they may need.

The partnership brings together the strengths of both organizations. HomeFront has extensive experience supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness, while The Arc Mercer brings decades of expertise serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Building a Better Path to Support

The pilot is still in its early stages and will begin on a limited scale. Together, The Arc Mercer and HomeFront will work to develop a practical screening process, identify individuals who may need further evaluation, and create stronger connections to disability services, benefits, housing resources, and other appropriate supports.

The goal is not simply to create another program, but to better understand whether earlier identification of a developmental disability can help individuals access the right resources and ultimately achieve greater stability.

“Too many people may be cycling through homelessness without anyone recognizing an underlying developmental disability,” said Steven Cook, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc Mercer. “If we can identify that need earlier and connect someone to the right supports, we may be able to change that trajectory.”

For The Arc Mercer, the partnership reflects a broader commitment to using our expertise in new ways to address unmet needs throughout the community.

There is still much to learn as the pilot develops, but by combining resources, knowledge, and experience, The Arc Mercer and HomeFront hope to create a stronger pathway to support for people who may otherwise go unidentified.

We look forward to sharing more as this partnership continues to take shape.