For Chera McCoy, the most interesting part of her job is the people.
She stepped into the deputy director position with the Jefferson City Housing Authority in May after a decade with the department.
"I have always been a social service type of person, wanting to help people solve and cope with problems of everyday life," she said. "So, being able to help provide one of the biggest problems people face, a home, is the most enjoyable part of the work I do."
She started as the housing choice voucher coordinator. Most recently, she's worked as the housing supervisor.
The position faces challenges, like money.
"One of the challenges faced in this position is being a good steward of the money allocated to the agency and making the hard decisions on where that money should be spent and what is the most dire need," McCoy said.
However, she said, the most interesting part of her job is working with and getting to know the residents with the Housing Authority.
"They are all unique and have their own individual or family needs which I enjoy trying to help them with," McCoy said. "I know many of the residents by face and/or name and love stopping to talk with them, even for a minute or so, when I am out on the property and run into them."
For many people in the industry, McCoy said, the residents are everything.
"The residents are the reason anyone in this field does what they do," she said. "Not only are they the most interesting part, but they are the most important part of this position."
Outside of work, McCoy is the mother of three with one grandchild.
She lives in Russellville, where she served on the school board from 2019-20. While her eldest daughter works for the Department of Social Services, the other two are students at Russellville High School
"I enjoy attending sporting events and cheering for my children and grandchild at those events," she said. "That in itself leaves me little time for hobbies, however, I do enjoy a good mystery book."