For more than 25 years, we have worked in partnership as a member of the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises (FAHE) (www.fahe.org). Frontier is a founding member of FAHE, which is a member-driven collaborative of 35 nonprofit organizations that provide affordable housing options for the most economically disadvantaged communities in Appalachia. FAHE organizations work throughout the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia where few housing options exist.

By working together, our collaboration makes better use of resources and creates long term solutions that are both qualitative and quantitative. The impact is significant. Working though FAHE, local nonprofits like Frontier have constructed or repaired 43,000 homes. During 2005, FAHE lent nearly $7.5 million and leveraged $15.5 million to make a regional impact. Frontier has worked to provide housing to over 800 families thus building better communities by adding jobs and property tax base for schools and community improvements.

Unfortunately, the need for decent and safe homes in the region is staggering. An estimated 100,000 homes are still substandard, lacking basic plumbing and kitchens or in a terrible state of disrepair. The hope is there that one day all Appalachians will be properly housed and Together we will improve the quality of life for many families.

For more information on FAHE’s programs, click here.