Nonprofit working to find housing for 8 families displaced by Georgetown fire
GEORGETOWN, Ky. – A devastating fire last week wreaked havoc on a Georgetown apartment complex, rendering eight apartments inhabitable and displacing a total of 33 people. The community has rallied in response to ensure all affected have their basic needs covered, such as food, clothing, and a safe place to call home.
Community Solidarity in Full Display
“The response from Georgetown has just been true Georgetown,” expressed Rachel Rainey, the Executive Director of Transform Scott County. “There’s just this overwhelming sense of that we take care of one another, and I think we take a lot of pride in that.”
Transform Scott County, a forward-thinking nonprofit that seeks to bridge the local church with the community, has become a beacon of hope for those affected by the fire. Several of the displaced individuals are students from Scott County schools, and the organization has been on high alert, coordinating to tackle the enormous task of providing temporary and permanent housing solutions for the devastated families.
A Call to Action
“It’s not something that, of course, happens very often in the community. I mean, you leave 33 individuals, among those individuals, kids, without a place to live. And so, we kind of had a call to action, a decision to make pretty quickly,” explained Rainey.
Donations Flood in to Aid in Recovery
Through their dedicated efforts, Transform Scott County has been able to raise over $10,000 to contribute towards housing for the affected families. “Our phones have been ringing off the hook of like, ‘how can we help?’. We’ve made it very clear that we are taking on the housing portion of it. But our friends at the Amen House are assisting with clothing and supplying them with things that they may need as they move forward,” added Rainey.
A Glimmer of Hope: Moving Forward
With the funds collected, the nonprofit aims to create a long-term housing plan for the displaced families- ensuring the money goes directly to landlords to enable a swift transition into permanent homes. Initial indications show that, at least three of the eight families should be able to move into permanent housing before the week runs out, thanks to the collective efforts of the community.
If you are interested in offering assistance, Transform Scott County accepts earmarked donations for “Scott County Fire Victims.” Visit their official page at https://www.transformscottcounty.org/donate to make a donation online, or mail a check to P.O. Box 919, Georgetown, Kentucky 40324. Cash donations and additional questions can be addressed via phone call to 502-642-0982.
