About Us
Vision: Habitat for Humanity is the leading organization in Kentucky working to eliminate poverty housing and improve communities
Incorporated in 1993, Kentucky Habitat for Humanity (KyHFH) State Support Organizations mission is to support and encourage an effective network of Kentucky Habitat for Humanity affiliates through the creation of new affiliates, resource development, advocacy, capacity building, mentoring, and prayer.
Since 1993, KyHFH has organized and assisted in the funding of a number of regional and statewide projects including:
- Homecoming 94—new low-income houses were built by affiliates in the state.
- Jimmy Carter Work Project 'Hammering in the Hills' 1997—Based in Pikeville, Kentucky, 2,000 volunteers, alongside President and Mrs. Carter, built 50 homes in Pike County, KY. A tithe check in the amount of $100,000 was taken by 20 Kentucky volunteers and presented to President Carter in 1998 at the Jimmy Carter Work Project in Popotal, Mexico.
- Mayoral Build 2001—in conjunction with the Kentucky League of Cities, KyHFH initiated a program to involve local government leaders in the work of Habitat affiliates.
- Homes and Hope Celebration 2003—Kentucky Habitat for Humanity affiliates and volunteers came together to build and celebrate the 1,000th home, built in Franklin County, KY.
- Freedom Blitz—Sending ambassadors to Northern Ireland and hosting the Irish in Simpson County.
Kentucky Habitat for Humanity Staff
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Mary Shearer |
Mary was born and raised in Louisville, KY, and has been with Kentucky Habitat for Humanity, Inc. state support office since 2004. A graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, Mary was a professional opera and concert singer, living and working in New York City and Europe. In her current position with KyHFH, Mary and the staff assist and partner with 51 Habitat affiliates in 57 counties across the Commonwealth in the areas of resource development, advocacy, disaster preparedness, sustainable building and educational learning.
Recent successes include:
- 3-year Home Depot Foundation grant to hire a sustainable building specialist
- 3-year Capacity Building grant through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to hire a Resource Development officer
- Technical assistance grant and CDFI certification through the US Department of the Treasury
- Co-sponsor of Federal Home Loan bank grants to Kentucky affiliates totaling almost five million dollars in additional funding
- Additional grants from Kentucky Housing Corporation, Frances Hollis Brain Foundation, Toyota Motor & Manufacturing of KY, PNC Bank, Fifth-Third Bank, HFHI, to name a few
- Advocating and passage of HB338, a statewide Affordable Housing Trust Fund, with a dedicated renewable source of revenue, serving families at 60% and below AMI. The trust fund has most recently brought in a total of $5.8 M for affordable housing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
- Second term member of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory committee through Kentucky Housing Corporation
- Invited participant in the most recent HFHI Habitat on the Hill Advocacy and Government Relations conference in Washington, DC.
- 2006 graduate of Leadership Kentucky
Across Kentucky, over 1,700 families have been served, providing a simple, decent and affordable place to live for over 6,800 Kentuckians, with a total assesses value of $1,275,000,000 for the Commonwealth of Kentucky in affordable housing.
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Ginger Watkins |
Ginger Watkins is the Sustainable Building Specialist for Kentucky Habitat for Humanity providing technical assistance in sustainable design and construction to the 53 Habitat Affiliates around the Commonwealth. She is a Certified Home Energy Rater, LEED Accredited Professional and Certified Passive House Consultant. Ginger's career has focused on green and energy-efficient building design in the commercial and residential sectors. She assisted the Commonwealth in development of the Kentucky High Performance Building Standards and was instrumental in Boone Tavern achieving LEED Gold. Ginger is passionate about collaborating to find innovative solutions to enable the development of affordable, super-efficient homes that act as a resource to families and, in turn, enable them to be a resource to their own communities!