Save a House/Make a Home leaders

The Fuller Center for Housing of Louisville is helping to transform the Shawnee neighborhood on the west end of Louisville, mainly through the Save a House/Make a Home initiative that takes donated vacant homes and turns them into simple, decent homes for families once again. It's less expensive than building new homes, plus it benefits communities affected by the blight of vacant buildings and the problems they attract.

Louisville is the standard-bearer for The Fuller Center for Housing's Save a House/Make a Home initiative. Here is a completed Save a House/Make a Home project.
Completed Save a House/Make a Home project.
Completed Save a House/Make a Home project.
Boston Court's Community Garden. The vacant house that sat on this lot could not be saved, but the residents of the resurrected Boston Court area are making the most of the space.
Boston Court's Community Garden. The vacant house that sat on this lot could not be saved, but the residents of the resurrected Boston Court area are making the most of the space.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
When The Fuller Center for Housing of Louisville was ready to begin work, they asked the city to pinpoint its most downtrodden spot most desperately in need of The Fuller Center's help. City leaders said that was Boston Court, and The Fuller Center set about changing Boston Court from a crime- and drug-ridden corner into a desirable stretch of homes. About one-third of the homes in Boston Court have been or are currently being restored by The Fuller Center.
When The Fuller Center for Housing of Louisville was ready to begin work, they asked the city to pinpoint its most downtrodden spot most desperately in need of The Fuller Center's help. City leaders said that was Boston Court, and The Fuller Center set about changing Boston Court from a crime- and drug-ridden corner into a desirable stretch of homes. About one-third of the homes in Boston Court have been or are currently being restored by The Fuller Center.
Completed Save a House/Make a Home project.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress. The Fuller Center of Louisville has found that the vacant homes it has received need a great deal of work but most have been structurally sound.
The Boston Court Community Garden outside a completed Save a House/Make a Home project.
Completed Save a House/Make a Home project. Its homeowner, Carolyn Mayes, supported The Fuller Center's work through her job at Spirit of Love Ministries long before becoming a homeowner partner.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress. Though many donated houses need a lot of work, The Fuller Center of Louisville has found most of its donated properties to be structurally sound.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress. Though this home needs major repairs, its potential to be restored to a charming home full of character is quite obvious.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress.
April 17, 2013: Save a House/Make a Home project in progress; new windows.
This once vacant house is being restored and will be dedicated for homeowner Connie Cash, a Youth Build graduate, on April 19, 2013.
This once vacant house is being restored and will be dedicated for homeowner Connie Cash, a Youth Build graduate, on April 19, 2013. In the background is the donated property that will become The Fuller Center for Housing of Louisville's new headquarters.
A Youth Build representative volunteers inside the house that will be dedicated for Connie Cash on April 19, 2013.
A Youth Build representative volunteers inside the house that will be dedicated for Connie Cash on April 19, 2013.
The Fuller Center for Housing of Louisville's Alexandra Crume, right, talks with Youth Build students about the work being done on the home for Connie Cash.
Fuller Center for Housing of Louisville Executive Director Steve Marrillia, left, and board member Don Erler outside the soon-to-be new Fuller Center of Louisville headquarters in the Shawnee neighborhood. Marrillia said it is important for The Fuller Center to be located in Shawnee among its homes and partners.
The Fuller Center of Louisville's soon-to-be new headquarters in the Shawnee neighborhood.
A Youth Build student works inside the once-vacant house that will become home for Connie Cash.
Roses planted by Youth Build volunteers outside the once-vacant house that will become home for Connie Cash.
Roses planted by Youth Build volunteers outside the once-vacant house that will become home for Connie Cash.
Youth Build volunteers work outside the home of Connie Cash.
Phonecia Carney and John Launius check on the progress on Carney's home. The once-vacant home is being refurbished into a safe and decent home for her and her three children through The Fuller Center's Save a House/Make a Home initiative.
Save a House/Make a Home homeowner partner Phonecia Carney, an Army veteran, with her children Valajiah, seated, and Tristan. Not pictured is Jeremiah, an eighth-grader who was at school.
Save a House/Make a Home homeowner partner Phonecia Carney, an Army veteran, with her children Valajiah, seated, and Tristan. Not pictured is Jeremiah, an eighth-grader who was at school.
Save a House/Make a Home homeowner partner Phonecia Carney, an Army veteran, with her children Valajiah, seated, and Tristan. Not pictured is Jeremiah, an eighth-grader who was at school.
At Volunteers of America's Family Emergency Shelter. Since 1984, Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter has responded to the growing population of homeless families in Louisville, Kentucky. The program provides safe emergency shelter for families who become homeless due to a wide range of factors. The shelter's hallmark is a commitment to serving the whole family in one location. The program also provides individualized case management, housing placement, and other services to help families transition back to the community and become self-sufficient.
At Volunteers of America's Family Emergency Shelter. Since 1984, Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter has responded to the growing population of homeless families in Louisville, Kentucky. The program provides safe emergency shelter for families who become homeless due to a wide range of factors. The shelter's hallmark is a commitment to serving the whole family in one location. The program also provides individualized case management, housing placement, and other services to help families transition back to the community and become self-sufficient.
At Volunteers of America's Family Emergency Shelter. Since 1984, Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter has responded to the growing population of homeless families in Louisville, Kentucky. The program provides safe emergency shelter for families who become homeless due to a wide range of factors. The shelter's hallmark is a commitment to serving the whole family in one location. The program also provides individualized case management, housing placement, and other services to help families transition back to the community and become self-sufficient.
At Volunteers of America's Family Emergency Shelter. Since 1984, Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter has responded to the growing population of homeless families in Louisville, Kentucky. The program provides safe emergency shelter for families who become homeless due to a wide range of factors. The shelter's hallmark is a commitment to serving the whole family in one location. The program also provides individualized case management, housing placement, and other services to help families transition back to the community and become self-sufficient.
At Volunteers of America's Family Emergency Shelter. Since 1984, Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter has responded to the growing population of homeless families in Louisville, Kentucky. The program provides safe emergency shelter for families who become homeless due to a wide range of factors. The shelter's hallmark is a commitment to serving the whole family in one location. The program also provides individualized case management, housing placement, and other services to help families transition back to the community and become self-sufficient.
At Volunteers of America's Family Emergency Shelter. Since 1984, Volunteers of America’s Family Emergency Shelter has responded to the growing population of homeless families in Louisville, Kentucky. The program provides safe emergency shelter for families who become homeless due to a wide range of factors. The shelter's hallmark is a commitment to serving the whole family in one location. The program also provides individualized case management, housing placement, and other services to help families transition back to the community and become self-sufficient.
Alexandra Crume inside the storage unit at Boston Court.
A rain barrel for the Boston Court community garden is attached to the home of Save a House/Make a Home homeowner partner Louis Alexander.
Save a House/Make a Home homeowner partner Louis Alexander's home is pictured at left in Boston Court.
Joe Thomas is an Army veteran who will soon become a homeowner in the Boston Court area of Louisville thanks to the Save a House/Make a Home initiative.