Homeless & Housing Coalition of Kentucky

HHCK works to eliminate the threat of homelessness and fulfill affordable housing's promise through advocacy, permanent supportive housing, and AmeriCorps. As the only statewide advocacy organization for issues of homelessness and affordable housing in Kentucky, we take the responsibility of educating state legislators and advocating for more affordable housing in Kentucky very seriously. We were established in 1987 to serve as the unified voice for low income housing issues Read More

• About Us
  AmeriCorps
  Homes for All AmeriCorps is an AmeriCorps program that partners with agencies that address homelessness and expand safe, healthy, and affordable housing opportunities for economically disadvantaged Kentuckians.  These HHCK Partner Agencies act as host sites for Build Corps members, who serve people who are homeless and/or economically‐disadvantaged.
  
  Homes for All Corps members can:  
   Build, renovate, or weatherize housing for low‐income families and
  individuals or people with disabilities
   Provide housing placement and case management services for homeless
  and economically‐disadvantaged persons to help them secure and
  maintain safe, healthy, affordable housing
   Recruit, train, and manage volunteers
    
  In June of 2016, HHCK launched the Homes for All VISTA program. With 23 VISTAs across the state, the VISTA project will seek to build capacity for several organizations through grant writing, fundraising, program development, volunteer recruitment, and other activities that will strengthen nonprofits in the Commonwealth.
  
  Advocacy
  As an active lobbying organization, advocacy has been the main priority of HHCK since 1987.  We plead the case for affordable housing initiatives to meet the needs of low‐income Kentuckians, and focus on educating the public and legislature about housing and homeless issues.    HHCK’s advocacy victories include the creation of a permanent funding source for the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund.  HHCK is also a member of many advocacy coalitions, including the Kentucky Coalition for Responsible
  Lending and the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance.
    
  Permanent Supportive Housing   
  HHCK offers two permanent supportive housing programs for homeless individuals and families with disabilities: Housing Now and Samaritan.   Both are permanent rental housing voucher programs available through a referral process to HHCK.   Referrals for the supportive housing programs are made by local homeless service providers, domestic violence shelters, or comprehensive care agencies across the state and are available in all Kentucky counties with a referring agency, except Fayette and Jefferson Counties,
  which have their own programs. Participants receive supportive case management along with their housing voucher.
• Our Impact
  Homes for All AmeriCorps:
  AmeriCorps is a national service program that provides thousands of Americans with an opportunity to give back to their communities. AmeriCorps Members serve in nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations. Since the program was created in 1994, over 250,000 individuals have served their communities and country as AmeriCorps Members. Full time AmeriCorps Members commit to serve in organizations for one year, completing at least 1700 hours. AmeriCorps Members receive a modest living allowance, student-loan forbearance, health coverage, end of service education award, and child care for those who qualify. HHCK’s program is the only housing and homelessness AmeriCorps program in Kentucky. The focus of the Homes for All Corps (formerly Build Corps) program is to expand affordable housing opportunities for homeless and economically disadvantaged Kentuckians. Members serve at housing nonprofits around the state, providing housing placement and case management services and building, renovating, and weatherizing affordable housing.
  
  Permanent Supportive Housing:
  In partnership with Kentucky Housing Corporation and HHCK Partner Agencies statewide, HHCK offers two Permanent Supportive Housing Programs for homeless individuals and families: Samaritan Program and Housing Now. These rental voucher programs are designed as part of the Continuum of Care strategy to promote the development of housing and supportive services to assist homeless persons in the transition from streets and shelters to permanent housing and maximum self-sufficiency. Referrals for the these programs are made by local homeless service providers, domestic violence shelters, or comprehensive care agencies across the state and are available in all Kentucky counties with a referring agency, except Fayette and Jefferson Counties, which have their own programs. People referred to our housing programs are ranked based on need through the Kentucky Balance of State Common Assessment and Referral process. For those individuals and families suffering from chronic homelessness in the Balance of State, more often than not there are little to no resources, or even shelters available. Thankfully through Permanent Supportive Housing programs, agencies like the Homeless & Housing Coalition of Kentucky are able to serve counties who lack vital funding, resources and services to house our most vulnerable citizens. Pulaski County is one of these areas that lack the funding and resources necessary to combat chronic homelessness in their community. Through a partnership with HHCK, a local agency has been able to place individuals experiencing chronic homelessness with long term disabilities into Permanent Supportive Housing. Most program participants prior to entry had been sleeping in places not meant for human habitation, such as local parks, vehicles and abandoned buildings. By placing participants into safe and affordable housing through the Samaritan Project Permanent Supportive Housing Program, we have seen an overall increase in the quality of life, health and mental health well-being for our clients. In addition, we have been able to provide supportive services to decrease the likelihood of returning to the streets.