By Isabella Schultz
NKyTribune intern
A quiet nonprofit in a small building and a couple of garages on busy streets in downtown Covington has been taking on the region’s housing crisis.
Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, or HONK, is a faith-based nonprofit that works with the community through lease-to-own housing.
In 1991, members of the community who wanted to make a permanent difference met in the basement of a church to discuss homeownership. The nonprofit officially began in 1992 and has made Northern Kentucky a better place, one house at a time, every year since.
David Hastings and Maarika Mann are two people who have been heavily involved with HONK and have witnessed its lasting influence on the community.
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Hastings, Executive Director of the organization, has been interested in affordable housing over the years as he has worked with other nonprofits. Thus, what drew him the most to HONK was how their long-term ownership has an impact on the community that will last.
In addition to Hastings, Mann, the Marketing & Community Outreach Manager, had a different story before coming to HONK. Mann came from the “profit world,” with her having a background in fashion and marketing. She joined the organization last fall and has been inspired by each person the nonprofit interacts with.
“HONK is great working with people individually because everyone has their own story,” said Mann.
The pair also mentioned how those in need of housing assistance can get the necessary help.
Through an application process, a committee will decide whether to accept an application. If accepted, a housing counselor will work directly with the client. HONK then purchases homes and will introduce the homeowners to it through the lease-to-own process.
Once HONK acquires the homes, soon after, a group of about six construction-staff volunteers will enter the home to renovate it. In addition to the six construction-staff volunteers, between 20 and 25 other volunteers, including students, churches, and general volunteer groups, will come to the work site to help.
Through these volunteers and other donations, HONK has been able to serve 125 homeowners.
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Moreover, HONK has been working with an ongoing exhibit called Collection 21 since May, 2022. Collection 21 is a private collection that displays over 250 vintage and antique cars in Erlanger. From this exhibit, all of the proceeds and donations will go towards HONK.
In the future, HONK will continue its mission of inspiring those in the Northern Kentucky area through the great disparity of housing affordability. For more information about Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky and how to donate and volunteer, visit the non-profit’s website.
For more information about Collection 21, visit the exhibit’s website at https://collection21ky.com/.