Governor Beshear Presents $13.5 Million for Flood Relief, Announces New High Ground Community in Floyd County
FRANKFORT, Kentucky — Governor Andy Beshear traveled the state last week from Jenkins in the east to Mayfield in the west to present checks totaling $13.5 million from the Rural Housing Trust Fund (RHTF) to organizations helping to build and rebuild the affordable housing stock in the wake of the natural disasters. Together, they will build 115 new homes and repair 45 homes disaster-impacted counties.
“I would just like to express our deepest gratitude to Governor Beshear and to the Kentucky General Assembly for creating the Rural Housing Trust Fund and to Kentucky Housing Corporation for the phenomenal job they’ve done getting those dollars out there so quickly,” said Robin Whitaker, executive director of the Daniel Boone Community Action Agency, which received just over $203,000. “This grant represents more than just financial assistance. It’s a symbol of hope and a lifeline to our fellow Kentuckians in Clay County who lost so much.”
Whitaker’s sentiment was shared by other recipients, including Cody Prater, board member of Frontier Housing, who called it “a beacon of hope for all of our communities,” and John Rudd Caudill, director of construction at Housing Development Alliance, who said the $2.5 million grant will go a long way in helping them rebuild affordable housing to pre-disaster levels.
At the Wayland Volunteer Fire Department in Floyd County, where one of the Eastern Kentucky announcements was hosted, Gov. Beshear also announced a new high ground community of 12 homes to be developed by the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) on the site, which has been readied for construction.
Chris Schroeder, director of new build and disaster recovery at ASP, acknowledged disaster recovery is challenging and takes time but added that helping communities rebuild “is of the utmost importance.” He said ASP is committed to serving the people of Wayland and beyond. “These mountains are our home, these people are our family,” he said.
The Kentucky General Assembly allocated $20 million in State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) to aid disaster-impacted communities through the RHTF. In fewer than seven months, KHC has crafted program regulations and policies, convened the RHTF Advisory Committee, sought feedback from partners, released a Notice of Funds Available (NOFA), reviewed applications, and awarded the first round of funds.
Kentucky Housing Corporation, the state housing finance agency, was created by the 1972 General Assembly to provide affordable housing opportunities. As a self-supporting, public corporation, Kentucky Housing offers down payment assistance loans to assist first-time homebuyers obtain home mortgages, housing production financing, homeownership education/counseling, rental assistance, housing rehabilitation, and supportive housing programs for special needs populations.
