High Ground Housing

In a three-part series, Kentucky Public Radio explored the state's ambitious plan to create seven new housing developments. Most are on former strip mines. For it to work, they'll have to surmount some complex challenges.

As climate change increases the risk of flooding in eastern Kentucky, the state is building high ground communities to help residents, but one small mountain town has their own vision for high ground homes.

The state is planning to create seven new neighborhoods, most on top of old mining sites in eastern Kentucky. But can they make the homes affordable and attractive enough to draw locals in to settle them?

When floods hit eastern Kentucky in 2022, hundreds of families lost their homes. Flush with federal aid, the state is responding by becoming a housing developer on former strip mines.