The House that the Youth Built

Covington, KY – Housing Opportunities of Northern KY (HONK) & Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission’s YouthBuild of Northern Kentucky Program (NKCAC/YB) Open House in celebration of the completion of the gut-renovation of the home located at 1230 Wheeler Street is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 16, 11:30am-2pm. Mayor of Covington Denny Bowman will speak at 12:30pm to kick off the event. John Lomax of Channel 12 news will serve as Master of Ceremonies.  Jack Westwood, KY State Senator, will also be in attendance. 

The two local non-profits combined resources in the re-habilitation of the 1230 Wheeler St. home, creating affordable housing for a family in need. Housing Opportunities of NKY purchased the house and provided the building materials and NKCAC’s YouthBuild of Northern Kentucky program provided the labor force through Program participants, who are known as “Hired Hands.” The HONK home was a chance for YouthBuild Hired Hands to practice carpentry skills in the deconstruction and re-build of the interior (walls, framing, cabinetry, and tiling) and improving the exterior (landscaping, painting).

This project is dynamic as it provides more than just affordable housing and an improved neighborhood – but a united partnership to improve our community and the lives of its residents.

“The completion of this house is symbolic in the lives of our Hired Hands.  Young people who have so few successes in their history are living better lives because they participated in the improvement of this house, this neighborhood and their community” says Melissa Eames, YouthBuild Program Manager.  “As this house was transformed from brokenness to a well built and attractive landmark in the neighborhood, YouthBuild Program participants are working hard on changing their self-destructive patterns.  They were instead experiencing the value of hard work and accomplishment as they witnessed the transformation.”

The YouthBuild of Northern Kentucky Program challenges Northern Kentucky’s disadvantaged dropout young people to redirect their lives toward meaningful study and work; to meet and become the leaders that reside within them.  YouthBuild assists trainees with earning their GED certification and Pre-Apprentice Carpentry certification; and offers them leadership training as they re/build homes in urban communities, learn life skills, and perform valuable other services to the community.
Housing Opportunities (HONK) is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation involved in  property development plus educational assistance and counseling to families working to achieve home ownership. Headquartered in Covington, KY, Housing Opportunities primary mission is to assist working individuals and families in becoming homeowners.  Housing Opportunities rehabilitates older houses and also builds new houses in Northern Kentucky, mostly in the urban areas.  HONK has completed over 104 projects and has helped 53 families transition to homeownership.  For more information on the event or the Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky program, please feel free to contact Marcia Jennings or Steve Lutkenhoff at 859-581-4665.

For more than forty years, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission has worked in this area to help low income individuals and families develop the knowledge, opportunities and resources they need to achieve self-reliance.