© 2021 – Housing Development Alliance | Designed by The Holler
Help us build affordable homes and make critical home repairs
for low-income families & flood survivors living in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
In 2025, as we continue our disaster recovery work and affordable housing programs for low-income people, we have made some changes to our Volunteer Program. This year, we need large groups (30 members max) willing to take on our Ultimate House Raising Challenge and large & small groups with all members age 18 & up to help us with new home framing, finishing, and rehab projects. The objective is to Build More, Build Stronger & Build Higher in our pursuit of serving as many people as we can, as much as we can, and as fast as we can! We hope you’ll join us.
Our Regional Volunteers come from all over Kentucky and from all across the USA. We welcome college mission trips, church youth groups (limited to ONLY those groups we’ve worked with in previous years), corporate retreats, seniors/older adults, etc. If you have a heart willing to serve, we’d love to have you serve with us! From helping us build new homes for low-income folks to repairing the homes of those in great need, you will be helping shape the future of our region. And you get to serve in the hills and hollows of Appalachian Eastern Kentucky – one of the most naturally beautiful areas in the entire country. Come make an impact you can immediately see and feel!
In East Kentucky, neighbors aren’t just the people who live next door – they’re close friends and family (whether by blood or not). We believe in mountain people helping mountain people, and when a neighbor needs our help, we all show up to give them the hand they need. From pitching in to help us build & repair homes to participating in annual special events, we are always excited to welcome local folks from Breathitt, Knott, Leslie and Perry counties who want to serve with us. Local churches, high school & college students, clubs/sports teams, businesses, civic groups, and more are invited to join us in making our mountain homes better. Come help us build a brighter future for our families and community!
The Housing Development Alliance, or HDA, is a nonprofit affordable housing developer that provides volunteer opportunities throughout the year for groups from all over the country and for our Eastern Kentucky friends and neighbors. We tailor each experience based on what we know each group is hoping to gain from their time of service. From college mission trips to groups taking on our Ultimate House Raising Challenge, we invite you to serve with us and witness the work you do immediately having an impact! Not only will you make a lasting change for the family and region you’re helping, but you’ll also find that perhaps the biggest change has happened to you.
In addition to helping others and picking up some cool construction and carpentry skills, you’ll learn more about Appalachia, become more knowledgeable about the culture of Eastern Kentucky, and enjoy the region’s scenic natural beauty!
You’ll work with our on-staff professional carpenters on actual worksites, where you’ll serve as part of our crew in building a new home and/or making home repairs. Our New Home Framing Crews, New Home Finishing Crews, and Home Rehab/Repair Crews each have a lead carpenter who is in charge of the site. Our carpenters have years of experience in working with volunteers so rest assured that you’ll be in good hands! Also, we make every effort to make sure you get to meet the homeowner or family you’re helping.
Volunteers in our program have contributed over 125,000 hours of labor in our community, helping us build over 350 new homes for low-income families and repair over 1,000 homes! Nearly 2,900 Appalachian Eastern Kentucky families in need have been helped by our Regional and Local Volunteers collectively.
After you’ve signed up, our Volunteer & Community Coordinator will contact you to get you ready for the trip! Regional Volunteers will also receive an informational Volunteer Planning Guide to utilize while you’re here.
Click here to check out available dates on our calendar. Dates are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, who will answer questions about available dates and will discuss the application process, fees (for Regional Volunteers; Local Volunteers do not pay a fee), and deadlines.
Every East Kentucky family deserves a home they can afford. Help us transform lives through affordable housing!
Want to be a part of HDA? Sign up for our Email List to get news and exclusive updates, info on volunteer opportunities, timely reminders about events and fundraising activities, details on how to donate to HDA and receive our newsletter, and more!
© 2021 – Housing Development Alliance | Designed by The Holler
