$12 Million Merryman Village Project to Provide SAFE, AFFORDABLE Housing for Domestic Violence Survivors

Merryman Village to Bring 48 New Affordable Apartments to Paducah’s South side.

PADUCAH, KY — Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center has been awarded critical funding through the 2026 Housing Credit Competitive funding cycle to develop Merryman Village, a new affordable housing community designed to support survivors of domestic violence and their families.

The project includes an award of $1.2 million in 2026 Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) from the New Supply/Balance of State set-aside, along with $450,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds. Together, these resources will support the development of 48 apartment units on Paducah’s South Side, providing safe, stable housing paired with supportive services for survivors as they rebuild their lives. The Project also includes $1,500,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati’s Affordable Housing Program.

“According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, 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. “That reality—combined with the ongoing housing crisis in Kentucky and across the nation—calls on all of us to help. The partnership among Kentucky Housing Corporation, FHLB, WABUCK Development, and Merryman House is a tangible example of how collaboration can change communities in meaningful ways.”

Merryman Village is designed to address both immediate housing needs and long-term stability, offering survivors a secure place to live while accessing resources that promote independence, healing, and economic security.

WABUCK Development, the project’s development partner, brings decades of experience collaborating with community-based nonprofits to create high-quality affordable housing across the region.

“WABUCK Development has a rich history of partnering with community nonprofits to improve lives through affordable housing,” said Garry Watkins, Owner of WABUCK Development. “The Merryman House project has been close to our hearts for many years, and we are honored to see it finally come to life.”

The 12-million-dollar project is currently in the preliminary phase, with construction anticipated to begin on May 3, 2027, and conclude on September 8, 2028.

Once completed, Merryman Village will represent a major investment in Paducah’s South Side and a significant step forward in addressing the intersection of domestic violence, housing insecurity, and community wellbeing.

About Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center

Merryman House, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, is committed to saving, building, and changing the lives of victims of domestic violence. It has been serving the eight-county Purchase Region as the state-designated provider since 1978. Merryman House offers non-residential programming as well. It has four outreach offices located in McCracken, Marshall, Graves, and Calloway counties. Merryman House serves approximately 1,000 victims per year, and all services are free and confidential. More information can be found here: If you would like more information about the Merryman House, please contact Mary E. Foley of Merryman House at 270-443-6001; email at Maryf@merrymanhouse.org; or visit the website at www.merrymanhouse.org.

About Wabuck Development

Wabuck Development Company, Inc., is a for-profit, mission-driven corporation founded by Garry Watkins to partner with financial institutions for the purpose of developing affordable housing across KY and surrounding states. Wabuck began in 1980 by developing properties utilizing Rural Development Funds (formerly FmHA) and has long-since encompassed utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits and financing by Kentucky Housing Corporation, HUD, HOME, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, KHC Risk-Sharing and Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program Funds. To date the organization has developed approximately 6,500 units across the region utilizing a wide source of funding. https://wabuckdevelopment.com/

About Kentucky Housing Corporation Low Income Tax Credit Program

Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) invests in affordable housing solutions by offering programs and services designed to develop, preserve, and sustain affordable housing throughout the state.

Created by the 1972 General Assembly, KHC is a self-supporting, public corporation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors. KHC is a quasi-government agency, which is administratively attached to the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, and a portion of KHC's funds are derived from the interest earned through the sale of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. From these proceeds, KHC has made homeownership possible for more than 76,000 Kentucky families. https://www.kyhousing.org/About-KHC/Pages/default.aspx

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Program (Housing Credits) promotes the development of low-income rental housing through tax incentives. The program offers eligible property owners a 10-year tax credit for each unit created for low-income families. Nonprofit and for-profit developers of affordable housing are eligible for Housing Credits. The credit may be obtained two ways: Automatically if the project will be financed with tax-exempt bond and through an allocation by KHC from a competitive application process.

Housing Credits must be used for one or more rent-restricted units available for long-term, continuous rental use. Generally, at least 20 percent of the units in a project must be rented to tenants earning 50 percent or less of area median income or 40 percent of the units must be rented to tenants earning 60 percent or less of area median. Rents charged to tenants cannot exceed 30 percent of the income limit applicable to the unit size, less an allowance for tenant-

paid utilities. Only the units rented to low-income people in a building qualify for Housing Credit.

About Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Cincinnati

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati is a regional wholesale bank providing financial services for residential housing and economic development to 601 member-stockholders in the FHLB System’s Fifth District of Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Eligible stockholders include banks, thrifts, credit unions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions. We are one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks nationwide, a system created by Congress in 1932 to support housing finance. Our mission is to provide members with reliable funding to support housing finance. https://www.fhlbcin.com/who-we-are/