In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a group of community leaders in Perry County organized to address urgent needs facing local families. Their efforts led to the creation of Hazard-Perry County Community Ministries, which operated programs including a food bank, childcare services, a homeless shelter, and crisis assistance.
As families sought help, one issue surfaced repeatedly: unstable housing.
Leaders of Community Ministries recognized that many financial crises were directly connected to poor housing conditions, high housing costs, or the absence of safe housing options. Housing was not a secondary issue – it was a structural one.
At the same time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, including funding opportunities for community-based housing developers.
Local leaders saw an opportunity to address housing systematically rather than episodically.
On September 8, 1993, the Housing Development Alliance (HDA) was formally established as a nonprofit affordable housing developer.
In 1994, Scott McReynolds was hired as Executive Director. Under his leadership, HDA transitioned from a small, newly formed nonprofit into a regional housing development organization with a long-term commitment to quality construction, financial stewardship, and community impact.
Over time, HDA expanded from Perry County into Breathitt, Knott, and Leslie counties – serving rural communities where private market development alone has not met local housing demand.
In 2018, HDA built its first home in Floyd County and continues to evaluate opportunities to responsibly expand its service area where housing needs remain acute.
As housing challenges evolved, so did HDA’s approach.
In 2019, HDA launched Hope Building, a workforce development initiative that provides paid, on-the-job training in residential construction (framing and finishing) for individuals in substance use recovery.
Hope Building strengthens the regional workforce while increasing housing supply. It also allows HDA to develop middle-income workforce housing for families who may not qualify for income-restricted programs but still face limited housing options.
This expansion reflects HDA’s broader philosophy: durable housing solutions must also strengthen local labor markets and economic stability.
Today, HDA operates as a community-based housing developer (CHDO) serving four counties in southeastern Kentucky. Our work spans new construction, home preservation, rental development, housing counseling, disaster recovery, and workforce housing.
We continue to focus on housing that is structurally sound, energy efficient, and financially sustainable – built to serve families and communities for decades.
Housing challenges in Eastern Kentucky remain complex. Aging housing stock, limited private development, disaster vulnerability, and workforce constraints continue to affect regional stability.
HDA’s commitment remains the same: to strengthen the region by developing and preserving housing that supports long-term economic and community health.
Since 1993, HDA has invested in long-term housing stability across southeastern Kentucky. Our impact reflects sustained regional commitment, not short-term projects.
To date, HDA has:
Expanding and preserving housing supply across four counties.
Providing stability in both everyday and crisis conditions.
Housing as economic infrastructure.
Strengthening both housing supply and local workforce capacity.
These figures represent more than production totals. They reflect a long-term investment in housing stability, workforce development, and regional resilience.
