Corbin’s Independence House gets $20k grant

A Corbin nonprofit organization that serves primarily pregnant and post-partum females with substance abuse issues is receiving $20,000 from the Team Kentucky Fund, which is closing after all pending applications have been addressed.

Independence House is one of the 19 qualified nonprofit organizations evenly splitting the $380,000 donation, according to a release from Gov. Andy Beshear Monday.

“This generous gift will help Independence House clients by providing much needed facility upgrades. Those upgrades will improve the quality of care that the women receive while at Independence House,” said Tim Cesario, M.S., LCADC, CSS regional director of recovery services, Cumberland River Behavioral Health.

Each of the organizations awarded the money serve Kentuckians by preventing homelessness and/or assisting families impacted by the opioid epidemic.

“This gift wouldn’t be possible without the incredible generosity of Kentuckians. Going forward, let’s keep the spirit of the Team Kentucky Fund alive by donating directly to these amazing organizations or other nonprofits in our communities that speak to our hearts,” said Beshear. “In Kentucky, we don’t just talk about our faith, we live it. Especially as we’ve faced this coronavirus pandemic, these agencies have helped our people most in need. We are proud to be able help them in turn.”

On March 23, 2020, Beshear established the Team Kentucky Fund, allowing Kentuckians to support other Kentuckians who suffered a serious financial setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund raised $3,768,222 from 11,411 donors, assisting 3,662 Kentucky families to date.

“During a really challenging year, I was so inspired by every single Kentuckian who contributed to this fund,” said Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman. “This is who we are as Kentuckians – working together, neighbor helping neighbor.”

The majority of funds were designated for $1,000 vouchers for individuals that could cover rent, mortgage, utility or food costs.

Beshear designated $380,000 for nonprofit organizations that share the Team Kentucky Fund’s mission of helping Kentucky families that are highly vulnerable due to COVID-19.

Gov. Beshear focused on addressing homelessness and the opioid epidemic, because these two crises have worsened significantly since the start of the pandemic, compounding the challenges families impacted by COVID-19 face.

The organizations had to be a qualified nonprofit organization under the emergency regulation governing the Team Kentucky Fund.