Find Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs by State: Read More

Kentucky Housing Corporation Honors Achievements in Housing Innovation

Published on August 28, 2018 by Kentucky Housing Corporation
Kentucky Housing Corporation Honors Achievements in Housing Innovation

FRANKFORT, KY — Awards honoring excellence and innovation in affordable housing were presented during the 2018 Kentucky Affordable Housing Conference in Lexington, which was held August 21-22.

Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), the conference host and state housing finance agency, sponsored the awards to honor innovative techniques and strategies used by our partners to meet the needs of Kentuckians as well as lifetime achievements dedicated to further affordable housing.

“Kentucky Housing Corporation is committed to working with our partners to provide holistic approaches to housing solutions that help others achieve stability and success for their families.” said KHC’s Executive Director Edwin King. “We are proud to recognize programs and developments that are innovative as well as honoring those who have dedicated their careers to furthering opportunities for affordable housing.”

During the Tuesday luncheon, the Dorothy J. Williams Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Kathryn Peters. This award is presented to an individual who has devoted much of their career to helping make the dream of affordable housing a reality in Kentucky. After attending Georgetown College, her appreciation of the state grew when she began working for the Division of Urban and Regional Planning and felt the call to public service. Peters later joined KHC’s team in 1987, where she was responsible for developing and implementing housing-related products and services, and then moving on to lead the organization in many of its business operations and programs as a member of the executive management team. She first retired from KHC in 2012 and came out of retirement when she appointed as the first female executive director of KHC to continue her long-time career to provide housing opportunities in December 2013, before retiring the second time in June 2017.

The Mae Street Kidd Award was presented to Porter G. Peeples, recognizing his outstanding public service. The award is named after the Louisville state representative who sponsored the legislation creating KHC in 1972. Peeples began his long-standing career in the Fayette County School System as a teacher before joining the Urban League staff as its Education Director. Then, in 1972, he became the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Urban League of Lexington – and reportedly the youngest Urban League CEO in the United States. He is passionate about his role in leading efforts advocating the needs and rights of the disadvantaged through empowerment opportunities, so they can achieve social and economic equality here in Central Kentucky.

Agencies that have shown innovation in housing solutions were also recognized. The goal of the KHC Innovative Housing Awards is to: recognize outstanding efforts, identify best practices, and encourage replication of workable housing solutions. The Innovation Award was presented to three different entities for their collaborative work on Riverport Landings—a vibrant intergenerational community that provides 9,000 units of affordable housing and opportunities for families, seniors, and youth transitioning out of foster care. This 36-acre site builds empowerment and community by offering education opportunities through the Family Scholar House program, green space for activities in a community park, and retail services.

LDG Development – Through the creation of a Community Revitalization Plan, the intergenerational housing model was designed to help revive the Cane Run Road Neighborhood and support the creation of new affordable housing units in a Qualified Census Tract. Situated on a 36-acre site, the combined development created 412 new affordable housing units in an underserved neighborhood in southwest Louisville. Although the vast size of the project alone is quite impressive, the benefits this type of comprehensive living community provides to its residents is inspiring and refreshing.

Marian Development – As part of the Riverport Landings project, the first of three buildings built was Riverport Seniors Living, which serves adults aged 55 or older. Occupancy of all 108 units is restricted to households with incomes no higher than 60 percent of the HUD Area Median Income, or AMI. Some units funded through the HOME Investment Partnership Program are further restricted to incomes no higher than 50 percent of AMI. In the next phase, Riverport Family Apartments were built to serve families with children, individuals, and the general population. Occupancy of these 240 units is restricted to households with incomes no higher than 60 percent of AMI with some HOME units further restricted to incomes no higher than 50 percent of AMI.

Family Scholar House – The Scholar House model provides four years of housing assistance for individuals with low incomes working to obtain a college degree and move beyond public assistance to self-sufficiency. The Riverport Family Scholar House includes 64 units and an educational service center. Like other Scholar House communities, Riverport Family Scholar serves single-parent families pursuing a degree from an accredited college or university. What is unique about Riverport Family Scholar House, however, is that it also targets youth aging out of foster care to give them an opportunity for post-secondary education. All 64 units are restricted to households with incomes no higher than 60 percent of AMI. Again, low-income HOME units are further restricted to incomes no higher than 50 percent of AMI. Additionally, all 64 units have Section 8 rental assistance provided by the Louisville Metro Housing Authority in the form of project-based Housing Choice Vouchers.

About Kentucky Housing Corporation
As Kentucky’s housing finance agency, Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) offers programs designed to create, preserve, and sustain affordable housing. In partnership with state and federal agencies, KHC administers programs that assist low- and moderate-income households with affordable home loans and down payment assistance, affordable rental homes, housing solutions for homeless, and specialized housing with supportive services.

Created by the General Assembly in 1972, KHC is a self-supporting, public corporation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KHC is a quasi-governmental agency administratively attached to the Finance and Administration Cabinet, and a portion of KHC’s funds are derived from the interest earned through the sale of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. From these proceeds, KHC has made homeownership possible for more than 94,000 Kentucky families.

KHC also receives fee income for administering federal programs, including rental assistance that makes quality housing available to more than 27,500 low-income Kentuckians. Other programs offered by KHC include rental housing financing for development and preservation, rental assistance, homelessness assistance, homeownership pre-purchase education/counseling, home energy and repair initiatives, as well as loan servicing of its mortgage loans. KHC works with many partners across the state to invest in and create affordable housing opportunities.