Joined by Gov. Andy Beshear, Habitat for Humanity Owensboro-Daviess County broke ground Monday on a 10-home subdivision as the organization works toward building a full neighborhood of affordable housing in the community.
Local Habitat Executive Director Jeremy Stephens said this project has been 2 years in the making. It aims to provide more homes for its participants and make a positive impact on the community.
“We didn’t set this goal priority for any reason except one: to increase the availability of affordable housing in our community, which we see increasingly in what we see daily here, across the state, and across the globe,” Stephens said.
The 10-house cul-de-sac will be located in the lot directly west of the Consumer Mall on KY 144 and will be home to a group of mixed-income residents, all of whom will have graduated from Habitat’s Homeownership Program.
The subdivision will be named Carter Community Court in honor of Former President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, who have dedicated years of service to affordable housing.
“This project is indicative of why Habitat works not just here but everywhere. It is a community coming together in service to others. It is the heart of what we do. It’s in our mission,” Stephens said.
With the help of the Green River Area Development District, Habitat obtained a $1 million Community Development Block Grant from the Governor’s Office for the development portion of the project.
“We should always make it easier and never make it harder for people to put a roof over their heads,” Beshear said. “We should always be looking for that way to help a family thrive instead of just surviving, but working to that point where nobody ever has to decide between paying rent and affording the next prescription they need.”
The local Habitat received an initial investment for the subdivision from the Daviess County Fiscal Court in 2022. Stephens said that after identifying the appropriate property, it became apparent the organization needed additional resources to get the proper infrastructure for the development.
Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said they were glad to join Habitat in developing the land after they also donated $1 million.
“For us to have a project of this magnitude and to be able to put it on is tremendous,” he said. “It’s a tremendous commentary on our community. … This project is not just houses; it’s community.”
