Fahe Receives $500K Grant from Truist Foundation to Tackle Housing Crisis in Appalachia

BEREA, KY—Today, Fahe announced the receipt of a generous $500,000 grant from the Truist Foundation. This critical funding will empower Fahe Members and partners to continue stakeholder education efforts addressing the housing crisis in Appalachia. The grant will bolster initiatives aimed at ensuring affordable housing access for the region’s underserved communities.

“Fahe is deeply committed to mobilizing policy changes at the state and federal level that will bring more resources to central Appalachia,” said Sara Morgan, president of Fahe. “We are leading a sustained effort to tackle the housing crisis in our region, and we are excited to receive support from Truist to help us advance this work.”

“Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said John Thurman, Truist market president for Kentucky. “Supporting organizations such as Fahe to help tackle the housing crisis is just one of the ways we live our purpose.”

More than half of the 750,000 housing units in central Appalachia will require repair or replacement in the next 10-20 years. Without intervention, the lack of workforce housing will threaten the stability of Appalachian communities, and the future health and wealth of the region. Fahe recently published a case study entitled Making Housing a Priority to share advocacy successes that demonstrate the impact of strategic collaboration and determined effort. In 2022 and 2023, Fahe spearheaded two significant campaigns:

1. Establishment of the Rural Housing Trust Fund (RHTF) in Kentucky: Originating with a $20 million allocation, this fund is set to support rural housing projects across the state, marking a significant step toward alleviating housing shortages in these communities.
2. Investment of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Dollars in Tennessee Housing: Securing between $10-$14 million, these funds are dedicated to enhancing housing infrastructure and accessibility in Tennessee, particularly in areas that have historically seen minimal investment.

Despite differences in political climates, coalition partners, and strategies, both campaigns shared common elements and lessons that will inform future advocacy throughout Fahe’s footprint. These experiences underscore the power of collective advocacy, particularly by small networks of traditionally marginalized groups.

“We’ve been challenged to figure out how we can cut through the noise to get really clear messaging across to decision makers about locally developed solutions to support workforce housing,” said Maggie Riden, VP of Advocacy at Fahe. “Our work in Kentucky and Tennessee highlights the potential for small, dedicated groups to drive significant change.”

Fahe’s recent campaigns reveal that the challenges faced in Kentucky and Tennessee are not unique. Many communities across the nation encounter similar issues, from political pressures to economic disparities.

“We believe our experiences are generalizable and offer substantial value to the field,” added Riden. “Truist’s thought partnership and financial support will allow us to test education strategies, identify what works and lay a solid foundation for ongoing, solution-oriented collaboration between Fahe Member Expert and State leaders.”

The $500,000 grant from the Truist Foundation is a vital step in Fahe’s mission to foster sustainable housing solutions across Appalachia. With this support, Fahe Members and Partners are well-equipped to continue their impactful work, ensuring that affordable housing becomes a reality for all.

About Fahe:

Fahe is a network of 50+ community nonprofits serving Appalachia and other regions. Fahe brings people, organizations, and resources together to build homes, communities, and a thriving Appalachia through expanding economic opportunity and security for all.

During FY2023, Fahe made total direct investments of $144.8 million. Total capital under management exceeded $300 million. Since 1980 Fahe has invested almost $2 billion and served more than 940,000 people. Learn more at fahe.org.

About Truist Foundation

Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation’s leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.