- Modeled after Jane Addams' Hull-House in Chicago, Illinois
- Strategy: social services and connections needed to overcome poverty was best administered from within the neighborhood, rather than from distant offices
- Hopkinsville Inner-city Transformation Squad (HIT Squad) wanted new results and a reform
- Socioeconomic gap between the �haves� and �have-nots� is so vast that a fundamental change was necessary
- Primary goal: link the lives of the children and adults living in the inner-city with the lives of men and women of resource
- Concept of the Challenge House Movement for Hopkinsville, Kentucky was born
- Through Inner-city Residential Enterprise Zone (ICREZ), Hopkinsville has developed six (6) neighborhood associations
- Locating at least one Challenge House in each of those neighborhoods
- Dilapidated houses will be acquired and renovated with a variety of volunteer and paid labor
- The house will remain as a community resource to be filled with people of faith, hope, courage, and education
- Goal to reassure the residents of those neighborhoods that the rest of the city is interested in their progress
- Return of neighborhood pride and a sense of hope for the future
- A former mayor of Hopkinsville moved into the Durrett Avenue neighborhood (one of 4) in June 2004
- Started forming relationships with the neighbors and trying to help them in whatever areas they had need
- Goal: learn what needs the residents felt most important; understand the barriers to bringing assistance to his neighborhood
- Citizens of Hopkinsville have donated money, time, and labor
- Work was undertaken by various professionals, students, and inmates
- Restoration created employment for some inner-city residents, and provided an opportunity to learn elements of the construction trade
- Major part of programming will be organized and supported by YMCA
- Increase the strong inner-city outreach that the YMCA has already developed with some of its programs
- Goal: find a family to occupy the house that will provide a positive influence, bring needed resources and connections to neighbors and serve as inner-city missionaries
- Serve as a welcoming place nearby where neighbors can come for help and guidance
- Various programs such as AA meetings, after school tutoring, GED classes, parenting classes, management of money, employment assistance and health education, etc.