Hope Building

Building Homes. Building Lives.

Hope is a work-in-progress.

As a transformational employer, we’ve partnered with Perry County Drug Court, Knott County Drug Court, Hickory Hill Recovery Center, and other local recovery providers to bring paid, on-the-job construction training to men and women in recovery. Just like a good home is crucial to success in life, a dependable job has proven to be key to sustaining life in recovery.

Designed to help those leading lives in substance use recovery successfully re-enter the local workforce, participants referred to our program will assist in constructing workforce housing in Breathitt, Knott, Leslie, and Perry counties in Eastern Kentucky, which is at the epicenter of the country’s opioid & other drugs epidemic.

The Hope Building program utilizes funding from ARC (Appalachian Regional Commission), the Just Transition Fund, and others to increase the long-term success rate of recovering individuals, while simultaneously rebuilding the local housing market. Participants exit the program with newfound hope. Armed with new skills, an accredited education, and a solid work history, their chances of finding permanent employment are greatly enhanced and the likelihood of relapse is significantly less.

If you're here to learn more about our program, read on! If you're looking for info on the houses built by Hope Building, stop here and click the button below.

Houses built by our Hope Building Program are sold on the open market, which means that anyone can apply to buy them. Click the button below to see examples of the homes and what all is currently available!

All trainees receive:

*Paid ($13/hr), on-the-job training in the construction field
*Ability to use the Housing Development Alliance (HDA) as a recent and credible work reference on resumes
*College certificates in construction

Note: All trainees are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of our program and continue to participate in their respective recovery programs while they are employed by HDA. 

Trainees receive college certificates in:

Basic Carpentry

Residential Roofer

Carpenter Helper

Construction Form Helper

All Hope Building trainees attend class one day per week at Hazard Community & Technical College (HCTC). Tutoring and Financial Aid are available! 

"Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential."

How Our Trainees Are Selected

Candidates for paid work training in our Hope Building program are selected and referred to us by local recovery service providers with whom we partner. Our trainees have all reached an advanced point in their recovery process.

HDA encourages directors and counselors of substance use recovery programs in the four counties we serve to contact us about partnering and referring eligible clients to our program.

If you’re a participant in a local recovery program and are interested in applying for work training with Hope Building, please inform the director of your recovery or Drug Court program and have them contact us. Details for contacting our program director are listed below.

We look forward to meeting our next group of trainees!

Our Partners

Hope Building is made possible by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

To find out more about Hope Building, contact:

Shannon Gabbard, Program Director
606-436-0497

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