Partnerships
Bowling
Green Technical
College 
Education Meets Community Service
It was through a
unique partnership that HANDS and the Bowling Green Technical College had the rare opportunity
to help the community and to train its students. HANDS is a nonprofit organization
that writes grants to build houses to help first time homebuyers obtain houses and keep the cost down so they approached the
college about helping with the construction of the houses. The agreement was
made that HANDS would supply the materials and the college would use its construction technology classes to build the houses. The classes then had a source for needed materials to train its students on an actual
job site. The students worked with other trade students as well as some hired
subcontractors to complete the houses thus improving the training and making it more jobs like without the responsibility
of meeting tight job schedules. Each program that worked on the house decided
what part it would play in the construction of the house. This helps the instructor
plan his course of study to best fit his class. HANDS puts no time limit on construction
but required that the house under go state and local inspections. This assured
HANDS that all houses, even though built by students just learning, are up to code standards.
The college got to produce a product in its training that was real, thus giving all students a sense of accomplishment. They brought their parents, spouse and children to see the finished product and tell
stories of what they did to construct the project. This sense of accomplishment
gives a student pride in their education. Teachers, for as long as there has
been education, have tried to discover a way to instill this pride into their students.
This unique program gave the college a way to give students pride in their education and help the community. The construction technology department is no longer exist at the Technical
College.
City of Bowling Green 
HANDS has partnered
with the City of Bowling Green for many years to help clean
up the blighted areas of the city. The city has gone into these blighted areas
and torn down dilapidated houses. The lots were then sold to HANDS to build single
family homes. HANDS tries to instill pride in the neighborhood so they will take
honor and maintain the way the neighborhood looks.
The City of Bowling Green took out a trailer park on Gordon Ave. then HANDS and the Housing Authority of Bowling Green each built five houses
for low and moderate income families. HANDS built 2 two story houses to give
character to the neighborhood. Three of the houses gave homeownership opportunities
to Family Self Sufficiency clients of the City of Bowling Green.
The City of Bowling Green, HANDS and Housing Authority once
again partner to develop a new subdivision Lee Square
for homeownership for low and moderate income families. Lee Square is being completed in two phases; Phase I was completed in 2007 with HANDS
and Housing Authority building six houses each. All the houses are installed
with kitchen appliances, washer/dryer, security system and sprinkler system.
HANDS looks forward
to continuing this partnership for many more years to come.
Wabuck Development
HANDS Inc. has partner with Wabuck Development, a for profit developer, to provide housing for a number of families. Projects consist of both homeownership and rental opportunities. These projects serve not only Warren County but many other areas of the state.
Both organizations
saw a need for additional elderly units and were able to develop Grant
Village to help meet this need.
Kingston Crossing Homes off Louisville Road
featured homeownership opportunities for a number of families. In addition to
these homeownership and rental opportunities in Warren County,
this partnership provides over 800 housing units across the state of Kentucky.
HANDS would like
to THANK Wabuck for the many successful housing projects completed through their partnership.
We look forward to many more years of working with Wabuck.
Kentucky Housing Corporation
HANDS has partnered with KHC (Kentucky Housing Corporation) to build single family homes for low and moderate income families. KHC provided grant money from HOME to construct homes in Bowling
Green and Warren County. These grants were also used for closing cost, down payment assistance or principal
reduction.
KHC also, has programs
to loan money to the future homeowner. Twice a year they offer an interest rate
as low as 2% for qualified families. HANDS does not act as a lender but does
work with a lender of the family’s choice. This is not a competitive funding
source but is done on a first come first serve basis. The lender makes the request.
For more information
about KHC programs go to www.kyhousing.org
Rural Development, USDA
HANDS has partnered with Rural Development (State and Local offices) to construct single family homes in Warren County through the Self-Help Program. HANDS finds the families and gets their vacations and packages the loan to submit
to Rural Development. Rural Development will then the family information and
decide if they can be approved. Once the group of families have been approved
and loans closed, construction begins on the houses. Rural Development will inspect
the houses at the foundation stage, framing stage and final completion of the house.
Once Rural Development does a final inspection with the family, the family can move can move into their new home.
HANDS is the only
approved self-help participant in the state of Kentucky. They provide a construction supervisor and group worker to interact with the families
during construction. The amount of time and commitment from the families determines
the length of time it takes to construct a house.
HANDS looks forward
to continuing this partnership for many more years to come.
