By Lilli Dubler, Building Kentucky
Since the first State of Emergency was declared by Governor Beshear on February 14, the Kentucky REALTORS® Relief Foundation (KRRF) has distributed more than $343,000 in funds to nearly 500 Kentucky families in 78 counties impacted by severe weather in 2025.
In response to deadly storms, flooding, and tornadoes that have impacted communities across the Commonwealth, KRRF offered housing assistance to help cover mortgage or rental payments, as well as lodging assistance for those who were displaced due to the natural disaster.
“We have endured a number of natural disasters this year that have touched Kentuckians in every corner of the state,” said Barb Curtis, President of Kentucky REALTORS®. “We wanted to ensure communities across the Commonwealth had access to the assistance and the resources they needed to rebuild because everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Kentucky REALTORS® are committed to helping our neighbors however we can.”
A separate grant was established for each State of Emergency declared on February 14, April 2, and May 16. Totals include:
- February 14: $195,508 distributed to 290 families
- April 2: $108,209 distributed to 146 families
- May 16: $39,437 distributed to 53 families
- Total: $343,154 distributed to 489 families
Funding was available to eligible residents who applied online, and relief assistance was limited to one month of housing expenses up to a maximum of $1,000 per household.
“Whether it was providing housing assistance or delivering much-needed supplies, the Kentucky REALTORS® Relief Foundation was proud to help when our state needed it most,” said Ann Elizabeth Delahanty, President of the Kentucky REALTORS® Relief Foundation. “These natural disasters hit close to home for many of us, and I’m glad Kentucky REALTORS® was able to help make a difference for families across the state.”
REALTORS® across the state are dedicated to the communities they serve. Since the devastating western Kentucky tornado outbreak in December 2021, KRRF and the national REALTORS® Relief Foundation have allocated nearly $2 million in relief funds and housing assistance to victims of natural disasters in Kentucky.
Kentucky REALTORS® have responded to many of the state’s severe weather incidents since the 2021 tornadoes, including the deadly flooding in eastern Kentucky in 2022, flooding in western Kentucky in the summer of 2023 and tornadoes in western Kentucky last year.
