In the first statewide Habitat for Humanity building project of its kind in the United States, Kentucky Habitat challenged Kentucky Affiliates to build 94 houses in one year. They built 101, more than the total number of houses constructed by Habitat Affiliates in Kentucky since the year Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) was founded, in 1976.
Affiliates invited city mayors and other elected officials to join in one-week blitz builds in towns and cities throughout Western Kentucky. The effort created better understanding of non-profit housing infrastructure needs and how to meet them by city and county officials.
In preparation for the 1997 Jimmy Carter Work Project, hundreds of volunteers mobilized to help seven affiliates in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky and Tennessee simultaneously build seven houses in one week at seven locations.
Thousands of volunteers from all over the world worked with former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, at seven sites in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee, building homes simultaneously for 50 families in just one week for the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project.
In honor of their counterparts in Appalachia, Habitat Affiliates throughout Kentucky built an additional 100 homes in 1997 for families in need.
Through the tithes sent by the 1997 Jimmy Carter Work Project: Hammering in the Hills Appalachian Affiliates to Habitat Affiliates in Mexico, Kentucky volunteers blitz built homes for people in need in the mountainous region near Vera Cruz.
Through the tithes sent by the 1997 Jimmy Carter Work Project: Hammering in the Hills Appalachian Affiliates to Habitat Affiliates in Northern Ireland, volunteer teams from that country came to Kentucky and blitz built homes in Beattyville/Lee County, Lancaster/Garrard County and Simpson/Franklin County. Habitat Northern Ireland’s mission includes facilitating reconciliation between Protestant and Catholic Churches.
In an unprecedented model of inter-agency collaboration, Kentucky Habitat for Humanity reached out to all the non-profit housing providers in Kentucky to create 2000 units of housing in one year. The goal was met and new relationships were established in evaluating the continuum of care that can be provided people in need, from those who are homeless to those who can’t afford their home.
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) called on Kentucky Habitat to coordinate an international building project commemorating HFHI’s 25th anniversary year. Reaching out to the heads of state and government at the behest of former President Jimmy Carter to join him in his annual work project in South Korea resulted in 45 nations building Habitat Homes throughout the year for the World Leaders Build. Then President George W. Bush led the U.S. effort in his hometown of Waco, Texas.
Habitat Affiliates in Kentucky constructed their 1000th home. It is in the state’s capitol city, Frankfort.
Over 100 Kentuckians, under the leadership of longtime volunteer Pat Smith, traveled to India to rebuild a village where more than 170 homes were destroyed during the Great Indian Ocean Tsunami and Earthquake of 2004.
Through the development of lasting and ongoing partnerships with key affordable housing funders and programs, including the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Kentucky Housing Corporation, Kentucky’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and numerous charitable foundations and organizations, KY Habitat has procured $10 million for Kentucky Habitat Affiliates to help them serve families in need of safe, decent, affordable and energy-efficient housing.
A steady stream of Kentucky volunteers traveled back and forth to Gulfport, Mississippi and built new homes for low-income residents whose housing was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina.
By sharing best practices and institutional knowledge, the council, formed in 2010, enables affiliates to work together to support and increase the capacity of 14+ Habitat ReStores throughout Kentucky.
Certification was finalized in January for the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund, providing access to affiliate funding sources that include the Capital Magnet Fund, CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, Community Development Financial Institutions Program, and the New Markets Tax Credit Program.
KyHFH created a home from a shipping container, which was adapted as an affordable and energy-efficient option for extremely low-income Kentuckians. For 10 days in August at the Kentucky State Fair, over 600,000 Kentuckians had the opportunity to tour this home.
Launched in April 2016 for U.S. Veterans in critical need of home repairs. To date, KyHFH has completed over 60 projects with funding through the Home Depot Foundation, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs and Schneider Electric.
Held in June in Louisville for more than 100 attendees who took part in three days of educational workshops, fellowship, an awards dinner and hands-on construction, on-site experience.
On Nov. 10, 2017, over 100 Kentuckians, under the leadership of longtime volunteer Pat Smith, traveled to India to rebuild a village where more than 170 homes were destroyed during the Great Indian Ocean Tsunami and Earthquake of 2004.
During FY 2018, Kentucky Habitat affiliates built their capacity in serving more low income families in need. Overall production was up 9%, critical home repairs were up 17% and new construction was up 10%.
Kentucky Habitat for Humanity partnered with Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company in an innovative partnership that enables a newly created KYHFH program to use locally grown solar from LG&E and KU’s Solar Share program to benefit habitat clients across the Commonwealth. The first Habitat family selected to participate in the program is located in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood. The subscription-based Solar Share Program is a cost-effective option available to the utilities’ residential, business and industrial customers who want to support solar energy for as little as 20 cents per day. This unique partnership, announced in December, Kentucky Habitat for Humanity uses the gifting option to benefit some of our clients. Habitat is transferring credits from 185 shares of the program to 10 families, selected collaboratively by KYHFH and Habitat affiliates across the state, with a goal to help offset as much as 30% of the families’ monthly energy usage.
KY Habitat for Humanity was honored to participate in a pre-Veteran's Day Event sponsored by The Appalachian Veteran Project, Cave Run Area Habitat for Humanity and KPFC-Cope House in West Liberty. One of the most solemn moments of the evening was the presentation of the POW/MIA Table, commonly known as the Missing Man Table. The tradition of setting a separate table in honor of prisoners of war and missing comrades has been in place since the end of the Vietnam War. Kentucky Habitat continues to salute and support those called to serve our country. We work proudly to help veterans in need of affordable housing across our state.
During the pandemic, Kentucky Habitat for Humanity continued to leverage key partnerships with long term and new supporters, collaborating to ensure delivery of service during time of crisis. We build homes, communities and hope even during a pandemic.
Kentucky Habitat welcomed the Burrows family as the first Habitat for Humanity Pennyrile Region homeowners following the recent Habitat for Humanity merger of three counties. The Burrow family is also the first in western Kentucky selected to benefit from an innovative partnership with the LG&E and KU Solar Share Program and Kentucky Habitat for Humanity. The subscription-based program allows residents or businesses to support renewable energy without the cost or long-term maintenance required with a private rooftop system. Kentucky Habitat for Humanity subscribed to 180 shares and is gifting them to ten of its current Habitat families. These families, including the Burrow family, will receive solar energy credits on their utility bill for up to 25 years. Through energy generated by the sun, the goal is to reduce their utility bill by 30%, providing long-term savings while adding local sustainable energy to the grid.
Kentucky Habitat continues to work in partnership with our Kentucky Affiliates to serve people in need of affordable housing. We were made aware of a Veteran living in an Amish shed without utilities. This shed was converted into a tiny home for a single, special needs Veteran by Cave Run Area HFH, serving Morgan, Menifee, Rowan and Wolfe counties. We meet our clients where they live, literally.
Catastrophic tornadoes decimated many towns in Western Kentucky in December 2021. Kentucky Habitat was on-site immediately to help assess damage and plan for recovery.
Kentucky Habitat for Humanity makes a multi-year commitment to long-term recovery in western Kentucky. Long-term recovery efforts began immediately in Western Kentucky, and Kentucky Habitat launched the Home SAFE Home Disaster Recovery Initiative. Kentucky Habitat for Humanity was in western Kentucky immediately after the storm, assessing needs and developing long-term recovery strategies to help rebuild communities by moving them from ruin to recovery. We are experts in disaster recovery and building homes, communities and hope. We are stronger when we work together. Kentucky Habitat for Humanity, along with HFH of Bowling Green/Warren County, Fulton/Hickman County HFH, Glasgow/Barren County HFH, Marshall County HFH, My New Kentucky Home HFH (Marion County), Ohio County HFH, HFH Pennyrile Region (Christian and Hopkins Counties), will ensure creating stability through shelter in these and other affected areas.
Kentucky Habitat for Humanity works with Habitat for Humanity Bowling Green/Warren County on the Bowling Green Strong Blitz Build: 10 homes in 10 days. Kentucky Habitat and the world learn of catastrophic flooding in Eastern Kentucky. Kentucky Habitat works to assess damage and provide temporary shelter for people who lost everything in the flash flooding. Recovery in Eastern Kentucky will demand partnerships with local, state and federal agencies. Kentucky Habitat is working to help in all the ways that we can to see that flood victims are able to return home to Eastern Kentucky.
Kentucky Habitat and the world learn of catastrophic flooding in Eastern Kentucky. Kentucky Habitat works to assess damage and provide temporary shelter for people who lost everything in the flash flooding. Recovery in Eastern Kentucky will demand partnerships with local, state and federal agencies. Kentucky Habitat is working to help in all the ways that we can to see that flood victims are able to return home to Eastern Kentucky.
Kentucky Habitat, working in conjunction with partners, spends the day at the Capitol, meeting with legislators and decision-makers regarding the affordable housing crisis.