The Habitat for Humanity of Henderson was one of two organizations in the state recognized by the Kentucky Housing Corporation for its work in accelerating construction of housing in the community.
The KHC awarded the local Habitat Thursday with the Housing Supply Accelerator Award, said Matt Reynolds, the local Habitat’s chief operating officer.
According to the KHC’s news release:
“Habitat for Henderson continually explores new ways to house its residents. Under the leadership of Britney Smith and Matt Reynolds, Habitat for Henderson recently completed its 82nd and 83rd home dedications. To address the supply gap in their area, Habitat is exploring manufactured and modular housing options. More importantly, they have stepped up to learn how to use federal dollars in ways that allow them to accrue working capital for future development by achieving designation as a HUD Community Housing Development Organization, or CHDO, the first Kentucky Habitat to do so.”
Reynolds said the award came because of the approaches Habitat is using to build houses.
“We have come up with unique ways to use fundraising and grant dollars to build more than we could under normal circumstances,” Reynolds said.
The designation as a HUD Community Housing Development Organization allows Habitat to receive federal funds, said Reynolds, who added the CHDO is structured in such a way that allows local organizations to stretch their dollars.
“We’re able to amplify the grant dollars we receive by being a CHDO,” he said.
He said there are no Habitat organizations in the western part of Kentucky that are designated as a CHDO.
Reynolds said Habitat’s possible use of modular or manufactured housing will not be the main type of construction but a “supplement” to what it is already doing and said the main determinant of a housing style is clients’ desires.
The other organization recognized for its work to quicken housing construction was the Kentucky Department of Local Government, said the KHC release.
