By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
The mission is simple — to provide a continuum of services that will end homelessness and promote stability for each person they serve.
The vision — to be the leader in guiding clients from housing uncertainty to housing stability. And how do they do this?
Through the services they provide — such as housing, service coordination and outreach and stability,.
Ah, but there’s more.
There is their leader.
Amanda Couch is the chief executive officer of Welcome House — and is the perfect person to fill that role.
“All I really wanted to do was become a nurse,” she told the Covington Rotary Club at their luncheon this week. “I graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in Mental Health and Human Services.”
What she really wanted to do — help people. And she does.
Couch has been with Welcome House for 12 years — she was named CEO in November 2025.
Under her leadership, Welcome House has expanded its reach from serving Northern Kentucky to providing housing and homelessness services across 40 Kentucky counties.
Welcome House has served 3,596 individuals along with 3,091 households, according to figures shared by Couch. And approximately half of those individuals served are in Northern Kentucky.
A total of 453 children have been served by Welcome House, Couch notes, from 2025 figures.
What Couch really is — a voice for those who cannot advocate for themselves. “I worked with an individual who became blind on his construction job,” she told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “He became homeless and I helped him obtain Social Security benefits.”
But there’s more than Social Security Outreach, Access and recovery (SOAR) services offered at Welcome House.
• Street outreach: The program is an interdisciplinary team whose goal is to bring emergency stabilization services to specific parts of our region. The outreach team’s priority is to spend time searching for those experiencing homelessness and build relationships with them as the team addresses physical and emotional needs.
• Service Coordination: Provides assessments, outreach, case planning, financial education, budgeting assistance, housing counseling, employment support and community referral services.
Service Coordinators work directly with residents staying at Welcome House shelter, other local shelters as well as homeless or at-risk individuals and families. After participants obtain housing, they are offered additional in-home visits to help keep them, on their targeted plan of self-sufficiency. Service Coordinators may provide additional support for up to six months.
• Social Security outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR): The program uses the SOAR method to assist homeless or at-risk individuals with mental or physical disabilities to complete applications for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Together with the Social Security Administration and Disability Determination Services, the program provides access to stable and permanent income, medical insurance, and social services coordination.
• Shelter for homeless women, children and families: The Welcome House Shelter for Homeless Women, Children, and Families – which can include single fathers with children — provides a safe place to stay for approximately 60 homeless women, children, and families each night. Residents of the Shelter work with Service Coordinators and other Welcome House staff to increase income and access affordable housing while removing any barriers to success. While working toward stability, program participants have a safe police to live, nutritious meals, hygiene supplies, and other assistance needed.
Welcome House can shelter up to ten veterans experiencing homelessness. Residents of the Shelter work with a dedicated Service Coordinator, the local VA and other Welcome House staff to increase income and access affordable housing.
The Welcome House Rapid re-housing service quickly connects families and individuals experiencing homelessness to permanent housing through a tailored package of time-limited financial aid and targeted supportive services.
The Permanent Supportive Housing service supports people with serious mental illnesses or other disabilities who need professional care, advocacy, and assistance to live stably in their communities.
“The Gardens at Greenup,” Couch said, “offers affordable, stable housing for families, consisting of 20 units containing two, four-bedroom apartments.”
It is located at 116 Greenup Street, Covington.
“The program,” she said, “is unique in setting a holistic standard for self-sufficiency, including personal growth development, family activities, and building a community of support.”
Welcome House has 69 affordable units in Covington, along with 40 additional units at Sutton’s Landing in Mason County – for a total of 109 units.
Welcome House was founded 1982 in Covington by a coalition of churches responding to neighbors in need.
Today, said Couch, “We get all kinds of calls; not just homelessness – maybe someone needs an electric bill paid.”
Welcome House is there to help people struggling – and help them find something affordable.
“The goal,” she said, “is not simply to manage homelessness. The goal is to help people exit it.”
Thanks to the would-be nurse.
The Covington Rotary welcomed two new members this week: Debby Shipp and Maggie Murphy.
When asked why they wanted to join Rotary, Shipp quickly said; “I was shopping for awhile. I went to several clubs; yet I really felt closely aligned to the Covington Rotary Club. They matched my values.”
As for Murphy, “I am from Covington,” she said. “And quite simply, I just want to give back to the community; and this is where and how to do it.”