Gov. Beshear: $16M from tornado relief fund to provide up to 300 homes

MAYFIELD, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday in Mayfield that $16 million from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund will help provide up to 300 homes for families in 13 Western Kentucky counties.

“The exciting new partnerships we are announcing today are really going to help our Western Kentucky families,” said Beshear. “If your home was lost in the devastating tornadoes five months ago, we are creating a real path for replacement through the donations to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund and the efforts of these nonprofit organizations.”

Working with the state’s Public Protection Cabinet, which administers the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, nonprofit groups Habitat for Humanity, Homes and Hope for Kentucky and The Fuller Center for Housing submitted proposals to assist in building up to 100 homes each. These homes can be built in Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Logan, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Taylor and Warren counties.

Habitat for Humanity has agreed to administer $4 million to help with down payment assistance for the mortgage on a home. Beshear’s office said Habitat hopes to build 10 homes in Bowling Green and 10 in Dawson Springs by the end of 2022 and 30 new homes in Bowling Green and 50 new homes in the Pennyrile by the end of 2023.

“Kentucky Habitat for Humanity is so very humbled by the magnitude of this support and the generosity of people from across the world that chose to support Kentuckians in their time of great need,” said Mary Shearer, executive director of Kentucky Habitat for Humanity. “Many thanks to Gov. Beshear and the Public Protection Cabinet for their support!”

The Fuller Center for Housing has agreed to administer $4 million to help with down payment assistance for mortgages on up to 100 homes.

Homes and Hope for Kentucky has agreed to administer $8 million to pay for materials to construct homes. Homes and Hope, partnering with Mennonite Disaster Services and Amish groups in the region to build and repair homes without labor costs, is expected to fund up to 100 homes.

Beshear presented more than $4.8 million from the West Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies fund in Mayfield. The funding awards include more than $2.8 million for the City of Mayfield, and Mayfield Electric & Water Systems will receive more than $2 million.

“Our Western Kentucky communities need our help as they continue to rebuild following the tornadoes that took so much from them last December,” said Beshear. “These funds will help cover expenses and services that are not eligible for FEMA aid, and they will help ease some of the financial burdens that these communities have endured.”

Impacted families should contact each nonprofit directly to decide which program will best meet their needs and to apply. The organizations will collaborate on reviewing and approving applicants.