(PADUCAH, Ky.) — A $12 million affordable housing development designed specifically for domestic violence survivors and their families is coming to Paducah’s South Side after Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center secured critical state and federal funding.
Merryman House announced it received $1.2 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and $450,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds through Kentucky Housing Corporation’s 2026 competitive funding cycle. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati contributed an additional $1.5 million through its Affordable Housing Program.
The funding will support construction of Merryman Village, a 48-unit apartment community that will offer safe housing combined with supportive services to help survivors rebuild their lives.
“Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness, with 90 percent of homeless women reporting severe physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives,” said Mary Foley, executive director of Merryman House, citing data from the National Network to End Domestic Violence. “That reality—combined with the ongoing housing crisis in Kentucky and across the nation—calls on all of us to help.”
Foley praised the partnership between Kentucky Housing Corporation, the Federal Home Loan Bank, development partner WABUCK Development, and Merryman House as “a tangible example of how collaboration can change communities in meaningful ways.”
WABUCK Development, which has decades of experience working with community nonprofits on affordable housing projects across the region, will serve as the development partner.
“The Merryman House project has been close to our hearts for many years, and we are honored to see it finally come to life,” said Garry Watkins, owner of WABUCK Development.
The project is currently in preliminary planning stages. Construction is scheduled to begin May 3, 2027, with completion expected by September 8, 2028.
Merryman Village will address both immediate housing needs and long-term stability for survivors, providing a secure living environment while residents access resources promoting independence, healing and economic security.
