In 1969, Father Ben O’Connor from Saint William Church ended an account of his neighborhood’s challenges with a declaration:
“I don’t know what we do, but we have to find a new direction”.
In the 45 years since that call to action, New Directions has evolved into a tri-county service agency with a mission to develop and maintain affordable housing and help create vital communities in partnership with neighborhoods and other stakeholders across Kentuckiana. New Directions has always operated with the core value that safe, affordable housing is the foundation upon which vital communities are built.
Housing programs include:
- Housing and neighborhood development, management and maintenance
- Home repair initiatives, including regional Repair Affair volunteer coordination
- Family Services Coordination
- Transitional Services for Homeless Families
- The Learning Center Program (for both elderly and children)
- Summer Youth Learning Center Program
- Neighborhood initiatives, including Neighborhood Roundtable
- Neighborhood housing and economic revitalization
Repair Affair volunteers in action!
New Directions community development strategies provide nearly 1,000 low-income families with rental housing. Their resident services strategy meets resident needs and encourages progress through seven learning centers and a transitional shelter that serves single-parent families moving towards permanent housing.
The volunteer-driven Repair Affair initiative links over 1,500 volunteers to elder or disabled homeowners in need of home repairs. The focus of Repair Affair is on home safety, security, weatherization and neighborhood stability. By simply installing hand rails, fixing broken steps, or making modifications to accommodate a wheel chair we can make it possible for a senior or disabled homeowner to remain independently in their own home. Best of all the assistance is completely free to the recipients.
Each summer 1500 dedicated volunteers armed with tools, materials and resources donated by generous donors make repairs to over 150 home. To date 28,000 volunteers have performed over 200,000 volunteer hours and repaired over 2500 homes in Kentuckiana. If you have an interest in volunteering for this program, please call Jacie Morgan at (502)719-7153!