The Reliability and Devotion of House on the Hill

Joel Hawkins with Halie Chamberlain

How do we combat over half of Americans living one crisis away from homelessness? With agencies like House on the Hill (HotH) who work diligently to provide access to fresh food and housing to low-income families. We spoke with Joel Hawkins, Executive Director at HotH.

“House on the Hill formed in 2010 in Mississippi,” said Joel. They reestablished in Bowling Green, Kentucky. “We have a food box program that we run. We currently serve 250 families per month… With the help of Red Cross and other agencies, we opened a free grocery store in one of the small communities in the county.”

The families that receive food boxes can now have a shopping experience and choose the produce and goods they want to take home. “Empowering families is one way we have been trying to combat the stigma of poverty,” said Joel. “The work we do focuses on the dignity of the clients we serve. The grocery store program is one of those ways we try to instill dignity. It empowers the family to come make their own food choices. But it also gives them the opportunity to shop at a grocery store instead of sitting at home and waiting on a box to be delivered.”

Our Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) has allowed HotH to advance their service to communities in Warren County. CAP is centered around communities that are at high risk for extreme weather and face socioeconomic challenges. CAP strengthens local nonprofits and their programs before a disaster and seeks to serve families hit hard by this new increasing state of climate disasters. “With CAP, we have received a forklift, a walk-in cooler to provide fresh produce, and a deep freezer we keep proteins in,” said Joel. 

His team is working to turn their focus to affordable housing options for low-income families. “This partnership with Red Cross has allowed us to look at innovative solutions to meet those needs. Whether it’s food, housing, or other programs. We also know a lot of health issues are created because of the housing situations our families are in. So, to be able to provide safe, inhabitable, affordable housing for low-income folks is now on our horizon because of the work.”

The housing program will look to build new houses in neighborhoods that provide common amenities. It will have supplemental aid if families are unable to make rent or pay utility bills on a given month if finances are tight. “Through this program, they won’t have to face getting evicted,” said Joel. While the 2021 western Kentucky tornadoes brought a focus to marginalized communities, Joel wants the spotlight placed on the kindness and service of the people.

“That’s what I’d love for the story to be is how neighbors help neighbors. We have many people who want to volunteer at the grocery store… Our neighbors are coming together all the time in little pockets around the community,” he said. Joel told us about how agencies showed up with little to do after the tornadoes because community members had already jumped in to do clean up.

He’s most proud of the stability that HotH provides. “We don’t just show up, provide a little bit of help, and leave. We stay.” One of their goals is to develop a community garden and pavilion on the property of the grocery store.

Joel is married to Jackie, and they live on a small farm in Warren County with a couple of miniature horses and dogs. Their son, Jackson, is an artist teaching glass blowing at University in Missouri.

Joel with his wife and son.