© 2025 WEKU
Lexington's Choice for NPR
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The 1850 campaign is in the home stretch! 1850 new WEKU supporters giving at least $10 a month. Great news! We are down to 569 to go! Click here to support WEKU!

U.S. Rep. Rogers requesting $3 million for nonprofit to build new homes for east Kentucky flood victims

Knott County flood survivors William & Cheyenne White, along with their children  and (left) Housing Development Alliance Executive Director Scott McReynolds, stand on the porch of their new HDA-built home in Emmalena, Ky. The family moved into the home May 31after living eight months in a small FEMA emergency trailer and two months with Cheyenne’s mother following the birth of their baby daughter.
Stan Ingold
/
WEKU News
Knott County flood survivors William & Cheyenne White, along with their children and Housing Development Alliance Executive Director Scott McReynolds, stand on the porch of their new HDA-built home in Emmalena, KY. The family moved into the home May 31after living eight months in a small FEMA emergency trailer and two months with Cheyenne’s mother following the birth of their baby daughter.

Kentucky Congressman Hal Rogers is asking Congress for 3 million dollars for new housing to replace some of those lost in last July’s floods. The money would be used by the nonprofit Housing Development Alliance, which serves Perry, Knott and Breathitt County. Scott McReynolds is the group’s executive director.

“What we're really hoping is that this 3 million, you know, becomes available with the new federal budget in October, and we can get if we're lucky enough to get it that we can get busy spending it to build houses for folks who lost theirs.”

Rogers, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, requested more than $85 million in Community Project Funding for 15 different projects in southern and eastern Kentucky. McReynolds said the $3 million his group hopes to receive should be enough to build 30 new homes.

“It's typically taking at least $100,000 a subsidy to help a flood survivor with a new home, because of the incomes we're serving, and the current construction costs. So at $100,000, that would be 30.”

McReynolds said more money is needed to help flood victims in his group’s three counties and throughout eastern Kentucky, but he appreciates Rogers’ help.

** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.

John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.
Related Content