HDA’s Volunteer Program is open to anyone age 18 & up. The only exceptions to this rule are for youth groups and groups from our local high schools, who we’ve worked with in the past, that would like to continue their partnership with HDA and groups taking on our Ultimate House Raising Challenge. Youth under age 18 and children younger than 14 in those groups are welcome to come along, but they must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

The Housing Development Alliance (HDA) provides affordable housing and home repairs to low-income families in Breathitt, Knott, Leslie, and Perry counties in Eastern Kentucky. Note: We capitalize Eastern because Eastern Kentucky is a distinct region. Sometimes referred to as Appalachian Kentucky or Appalachian Eastern Kentucky, this region of the state is rugged, still somewhat isolated, and full of natural beauty.

The counties we serve are “persistent poverty counties” (according to the Appalachian Regional Commission) and are some of the poorest in the nation. However, despite these challenges, the people of our region are resilient, tough, and independent. They’re creative, determined, and proud, with a rich heritage, unique language, and an unmatched genuineness. You’ll love the place, but you’ll love the people even more!

Check out HDA and its surrounding area on Google Earth!

You’ll be working alongside our skilled carpenters to serve the housing needs of low-income Appalachian Eastern Kentucky families and 2022 flood survivors. In July 2022, our region suffered an historic 1,000-year flood, which destroyed homes and killed over 40 people. Much of our work will be focused on helping flood survivors recover by rebuilding and repairing homes.

Sometimes, the families you’ll be helping are large families with four or more children. Often, you’ll be helping elderly couples, older folks who live alone, disabled persons, and Veterans. There’s not a lot of racial diversity in our region (it’s over 95% white), but we do have many Black families in our area, as well as a growing Hispanic and Asian population. 

In our four-county service area, over 7,800 households live on an income of less than $10,000 per year. Based on nationally recognized affordability guidelines, these households have less than $350 per month for housing costs, including utilities. The coalfields of Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia have the highest disability rates in the nation, with over 35% of the working age population having a disability. Also, almost 40% of children in our four counties live in poverty. Despite the loss of population and loss of coal mining jobs, the number of households in the area is increasing, causing an increase in the demand for safe and affordable housing. Leaders in all four counties have identified affordable housing as a major need.

Since the flood disaster of 2022, the housing crisis in our area has been far worse. Over 3,000 homes were damaged, and most are uninhabitable without repairs. Around 500 homes were completely destroyed (gone). At present, hundreds of families are still displaced, with many having moved to other regions and states. For those who have remained, they’ve resorted to living in travel trailers, their vehicles, or with family members. Others are still living in their flood-damaged homes, pop-up campers, or in sheds they’ve converted into tiny homes. Local leaders have said housing is the #1 need of flood survivors.

Throughout the year, HDA hosts various College Mission Trips/Alternative Breaks, church groups, corporate retreats, older adults/seniors, and others from across the country to help build and repair homes for families in need. We see most of our volunteers in the spring and summer; however, opportunities are also available year-round.

Regional & Local Volunteers are encouraged to take on our Ultimate House Raising Challenge in which a group works alongside our carpenters to frame 1 or 2 homes in 4-5 days for a flood survivor or low-income family in need. 

Check out our calendar for available dates!

A tentative work site plan will be provided the week before you arrive at HDA. No construction experience is required. Volunteers work alongside our on-staff carpenters. There will always be at least one HDA carpenter onsite. Volunteers work on new home construction (framing and/or finishing) and/or home repair & rehabilitation.

Repairs range from painting homes to bathroom replacement to building wheelchair ramps and porches. With new homes, volunteers work on various phases of construction, from digging & pouring footers and framing floors, to building walls, roofing, cleaning up and landscaping. While some tasks seem more exciting than others, each phase is crucial to completing the home.

Though we cannot guarantee fulfilling specific project requests, we strive to find work that is meaningful to your group and valuable to the people we serve.

Regional Volunteer Groups usually arrive on Sunday afternoon. If needed, other arrangements can be made to accommodate earlier or later arrivals. Our Volunteer Coordinator will meet your group at First Presbyterian Church in Hazard (directions to the church are provided in your Volunteer Planning Guide) or whichever church you have selected for your lodging for a brief introduction, which includes a tour of the church and an orientation of our program. We’ll tell you all about what you can expect to do and learn while volunteering with HDA.

Following this meeting, our Volunteer Coordinator will review expectations and answer questions. Group leaders will divide the volunteers into smaller work site crews of 5-7 (depending on group size) prior to the first workday. Each crew leader will receive a resource folder with directions to each work site, work site plans, and a list of area attractions. We will also share important staff contact information and emergency numbers.

Local Volunteer Groups simply report to the HDA office on North Main Street in Hazard each morning on the days they’re volunteering.

Groups work Monday through Thursday. Taking Friday off helps the carpenters plan for the next phase of construction, while allowing your group to immerse further into the local culture by giving you time to do some sightseeing or reflect on your experience in the hills of Appalachian Eastern Kentucky! Local Volunteers can work M-F or can select days & times that fit their schedules.

On your departure day, the Volunteer Coordinator will meet with the entire group to discuss the events of the week, distribute souvenir T-shirts, and take a group photo! (Local groups: you get an event T-shirt and photo, too!) We ask that each group clean the areas of the church that were used. Before you leave for home, your group must turn in the keys, timesheets, evaluation forms, and resource folders.

Local Volunteers receive workday info from our Volunteer Coordinator.

For Regional Volunteers:

Before 7:00 AM: This is time to eat breakfast, pack lunches, water, sunscreen, and first aid kits for each work site. Other activities, such as morning devotions or group reflections, are optional based upon the discretion of the Group Leader.

7:30 AM: On Monday, the Volunteer Coordinator will meet you at the HDA office on North Main Street to communicate any changes in plans for each work site. Crew leaders must attend this brief meeting. The work teams will also meet their carpenters at this time!

8:00 AM: From the HDA office, each crew leader will transport teams to the work site. The carpenters will lead you to the site on Monday morning. Afterwards, each leader will receive written directions to the site for the week. Then, you can depart from your place of lodging instead of setting off from the HDA office. If you still need an escort to the work site each morning, though, please let us know and we’ll make the necessary arrangements! 

Arrival at the work site: The lead carpenter will introduce the daily construction plan and discuss any safety issues. During the workday, group leaders are responsible for enforcing the Work Site Rules.

12:00 PM: Break for lunch. Everyone stays onsite to eat lunch together.

By 4:00 PM: It’s the end of the workday! Everyone must participate in work site clean-up. Congratulations on a job well done and serving another family in need!

Return to First Presbyterian (or the church providing your lodging): After the workday, you are free to enjoy your time in our service region! Enjoy meals of fellowship and activities according to your own preference. Details on area attractions and restaurants are provided in your Volunteer Planning Guide.

Inclement weather notice: We hope you have a bright, sunny week, but you know what they say, “You can’t predict the weather!” And boy, is that ever true in the state of Kentucky! It may be an all-day downpour, or it could be a brief shower that you can wait out. If the decision is made to stop work, please know that it is for your safety! Thanks for understanding that construction work depends on weather conditions.

A non-refundable deposit of $50 per person is due by the date given to you by our Volunteer Coordinator. The deposit reserves and holds your spot on our calendar. (The only exception is if HDA must cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances on our end. If that happens, your deposit will be refunded.)

The remaining volunteer fee balance is $200 per person and is due upon arrival. (Total fee for each volunteer is $250.)

The fee of $250 per person per week will cover materials, housing, and staff time. We pay First Presbyterian Church in Hazard (or whichever church provides your lodging) a small amount to cover some of the costs to provide housing. The remainder goes to the Housing Development Alliance to help continue our mission.

Since they do not require housing, Local Volunteers do not pay the volunteer fee; however, donations to help fund our volunteer and other programs are greatly appreciated.

We partner with the First Presbyterian Church of Hazard and, when available, First Baptist Church of Hazard to house our Regional Volunteers. Groups sleep at the main church building in various Sunday school and fellowship rooms. Both churches offer plenty of space with a commercial kitchen where volunteers prepare their own meals.

If lodging at First Presbyterian Church, our volunteers shower at a nearby recreational center, the Hazard Pavilion. The Pavilion is on the same street – Broadway – and is approximately a three-minute walk from the church. NOTE: The Church is hoping to have its own showers installed by May 2025. First Baptist Church has its own showers for our volunteers to utilize.

Other features at the Pavilion, which is a facility all volunteer groups can access regardless of where they stay, include: a heated 25-meter pool and a workout room. The facility stays open until 9 PM.

More information about the churches is provided in your Volunteer Planning Guide, but you can also visit them on Facebook: First Presbyterian | First Baptist. For a bit more information about the Hazard Pavilion, visit here or call 606-436-4200.

NOTE: When available, we may be able to house volunteer groups at other local churches that have the necessary volunteer lodging space. We will make those options known to you upon request and whenever we are aware of them.

Nope! You needn’t have any experience at all. There will be at least one HDA carpenter on each work site at all times, and he or she will show you what to do and will provide further instruction anytime it’s needed.

HDA provides tools for everyone at each work site. Tools are purchased from local businesses and suppliers, which contributes to our local economy. However, if you’d like to bring your own tools, that’s perfectly fine – just be sure to discuss this preference with our Volunteer Coordinator.

Water is provided by HDA at the work sites. If you have favorite snacks or drinks, you will want to bring those for yourself. We also advise bringing your own coolers & ice, chairs/seating, tables, and tents (to protect you from the weather) should you think you’d need them.

For those groups taking on our Ultimate House Raising Challenge, water and ice are provided daily, as well as a limited number of snacks, drinks (e.g., Gatorade, juice pouches, etc.), and a tent throughout the week. We strongly advice each group to bring their own tables and chairs/seating, especially since you know the unique needs of your team members. We also strongly encourage groups to bring snacks and drinks they like to last the week.

Currently, HDA provides one meal – your farewell dinner. All other meals, including lunches at the work sites, are on your own. Please note that First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church each has a full kitchen, where you are welcome to prepare meals. Listings for local restaurants, groceries, and convenience stores are included in your Volunteer Planning Guide.

We require all groups to have their own vehicles for transportation to the work sites each day. Please have one work site vehicle that can accommodate each group of up to seven volunteers. (If you have 30 members, you will need at least 5-6 vehicles.) Vans work very well for work site transportation. School busses are not allowed.

Contact information for local car and van rental agencies can be provided, if necessary.

*Keep in mind that roads in Eastern Kentucky are often curvy, narrow, at various elevations, and are sometimes unpaved or in need of repair (especially now, due to the flooding). Large vehicles, like busses, are difficult to maneuver on many of these roadways and present safety hazards. Please allow plenty of time for driving to and from work sites! 

Safety is of utmost importance to HDA. The lead carpenter at each work site will supervise you at all times and will ensure the safety of every volunteer. Clear and direct communication between the lead carpenter and the volunteer group’s leader is crucial to your safety as well. Put your group’s safety first in all things! Please review, become well acquainted with, and refer to the Work Site Rules, which you have been provided in your Volunteer Planning Guide. Following the Work Site Rules keeps everyone safe. While Housing Development Alliance staff and carpenters have full authority to enforce Work Site Rules, it is the Group Leader’s/Leaders’ responsibility to supervise members of their group (including any children who come along), ensure their safety, and enforce the Work Site Rules.

The leaders of the trip will divide the group into smaller work site crews of 5-7 (depending on group size) prior to the first workday. Each of those crews will be taken to a different site. Smaller crews enable each person to have a job to do on the site. There may be opportunities for groups to volunteer at work sites that are side-by-side, but this can’t be guaranteed. We want you to have the best experience possible, and in our view, smaller work crews ensure that! 

Yes! Each site will have a lead carpenter, and at least one HDA carpenter will be present on each site at all times.

After your arrival, our Volunteer Coordinator will meet your group at First Presbyterian Church in Hazard (or wherever you are staying) for a brief introduction, which includes an orientation of our program. We’ll tell you all about what you can expect to do and learn while volunteering with HDA. Following this meeting, our Volunteer Coordinator will review expectations and answer questions.

Locals: you will receive instructions at the HDA office on North Main Street in Hazard.

Each crew leader will receive a resource folder with directions to each work site, work site plans, and a list of area attractions. Your lead HDA carpenter will also be on-hand at the work site to provide instructions. We will also share important staff contact information and emergency numbers.

HDA’s Volunteer Coordinator will be reachable at all times.

In your Volunteer Planning Guide, Regional Volunteers will find information about local area attractions, as well as information about parks, special events, outdoor adventure opportunities, and more. Whenever possible, we will provide you with discounts or special offers for activities like these.

As with any trip, it’s always a good idea to bring along reading materials, board/card games, etc.

As with most remote locations, cell phone service is spotty. Appalachian Wireless and Verizon customers will have much better service than others, but it will still be hit and miss in more isolated areas (like mountain hollows). 

WiFi is available at First Presbyterian and First Baptist. However, we think it would be more beneficial to our volunteers to limit cell phone & internet usage and focus more on your experience in Appalachian Eastern Kentucky.

HDA is not affiliated with any church or religion. Even though our volunteers are graciously housed by local churches, we are not a Christian organization. We are open to all people and all faiths, and our commitment to helping others, showing kindness, serving those in need, and treating others the way we’d like to be treated are ideas found in most, if not all, religions. What can we do to improve the quality of life for others? – that’s the question we ask. The work we do is built on that sort of philosophy, which is accepting of all people, is dedicated to serving them, and is welcoming to all who wish to serve alongside us.