New Housing Development Underway for Eastern Kentucky Flood Victims
Disastrous flooding in Eastern Kentucky last summer damaged or destroyed an estimated 8,940 homes in 13 counties, but thanks to recent land and monetary donations, 57 new homes will be built to house families displaced by the extreme weather event. The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky announced that Western Pocahontas Properties deeded 22 acres in Knott County for the development of the new homes, and coal executive Joe Craft III donated $4 million for the project, the Lexington Herald Leader reports.
The foundation said the development in Knott County, called Chestnut Ridge, could be done in a year. Each of the homes will go to someone whose home was destroyed in the flood or received significant damage.
The foundation and developers can combine money from various sources to keep down the mortgage payments on the houses. In addition, Samaritan’s Purse will work with some families to get them into a home with no mortgage, according to a news release.