Hope Building
In The Media
A workforce development model rebuilding lives - and communities - in Eastern Kentucky.
Hope Building is a construction-based workforce development program serving men and women in substance use recovery. Through paid, on-the-job training, participants gain real-world experience, industry credentials, and a pathway to long-term employment.
As communities across the region – and the country – seek effective responses to workforce shortages, housing needs, and substance use recovery, Hope Building has drawn growing attention from local, state, and national media.
Why Hope Building Is a Story
Hope Building sits at the intersection of several urgent issues:
Workforce development in rural America
Substance use recovery and re-entry into employment
Affordable housing and skilled trades training
Community-based solutions with measurable outcomes
By combining paid training, accountability, and real production work, Hope Building offers a replicable model for how recovery and economic participation can move forward together.
Media Inquiries
Members of the media interested in learning more about Hope Building, visiting a job site, or speaking with program leadership are encouraged to reach out.
Contact:
Shannon Gabbard
Hope Building Program Director
Office: 606-436-0497
Email Shannon
(Interviews, site visits, and background information available upon request.)
Press Kit Available Upon Request
Featured Coverage & Media Resources
Hope Building reflects a growing national interest in place-based workforce models rooted in recovery and skilled trades.
Below you’ll find news stories, video features, and other media highlighting Hope Building and the individuals working to build a stronger future through the program.
Video Stories
Articles
HDA Receives $500,000 from ARC’s INSPIRE Initiative
Hope Building Completes First Home
HDA Receives $800,000 Grant for Hope Building Project
Links
Article: “Job Program Helps Recovering Addicts Rebuild Houses – And Their Lives” in The Daily Yonder by Kim Kobersmith
Photo Project: “There is More Work to Be Done: Building Homes and Bettering Lives in Appalachia” for the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) by Shawn Poynter
Article: “Investing in Appalachia: How Collaboration and Capital Are Building a More Resilient Region” in Land Lines Quarterly (April 2022) by Alena Klimas
Support This Work
Media coverage helps raise awareness – but philanthropic support helps keep the work going.
If you’ve learned about Hope Building through a news story or video and would like to support the program’s continued impact, you can help sustain this work through charitable giving.
