Halfway point reached in goal to build or significantly repair 300 homes
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2023) – Just over two months after dedicating the 100th home built for tornado survivors in Western Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear announced today that 153 homes are now completed or under construction with partial funding from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund.
Today’s announcement marks the halfway point of the administration’s goal to build or significantly repair 300 homes as part of recovery efforts from the 2021 tornadoes.
“Thank you to each of the 150,000 donors as well as the local leaders and housing partners who helped make this milestone possible,” said Gov. Beshear. “Your generosity has helped families become homeowners for the very first time and get a fresh start after losing so much during the devastating tornadoes.”
The building projects received the support of over $11.5 million from the fund. In total, $21.6 million has been committed from the fund to build or significantly repair 300 homes. Building continues with projects currently in nine Western Kentucky counties – Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Hopkins, Marshall, Ohio and Warren.
Nonprofit building partners include The Hope Initiative, Habitat for Humanity, Homes & Hope for Kentucky, Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders, The Mayfield/Graves Fuller Center for Housing and The Mayfield/Graves Long-Term Recovery Group.
“We are so honored and humbled to be able to help Kentucky families get back up on their feet,” said Executive Director of Kentucky Habitat for Humanity Mary Shearer. “It warms our hearts, and we want everyone to know that we’re not done yet. There is more to do in recovery and in creating affordable housing for all Kentuckians who need it – and Habitat is committed to that goal for the long term.”
“The Hope Initiative continues to serve the needs of our community throughout the recovery process because of the kindness and generosity of so many partners. In our long-term efforts, the biggest need continues to be housing solutions for renters whose homes were lost or destroyed by the tornado,” said His House Ministries Lead Pastor Stephen Boyken, who serves as president of The Hope Initiative. “The financial support from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund is allowing us to put the pieces and the people of our community back together one home at a time.”
Launched just days after the tornadoes in December 2021, the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund has raised over $52 million with donations from over 150,000 individuals and businesses. The money raised helped pay funeral expenses for the families of the deceased and aided survivors as well as local farmers impacted by the storms. The remaining funds are being used to build houses. For more information and to donate, click here.
In August, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local leaders from The Hope Initiative to hand over keys to the 100th new home built for tornado survivors that was funded in part by the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund.
For those recovering in Eastern Kentucky from the devastating flooding in 2022, two weeks ago, Gov. Beshear announced the sixth and seventh high-ground home communities for flood survivors.
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