Repairing Homes, Transforming Lives
ASP provides one of the most rewarding structured service opportunities in the nation — bringing thousands of volunteers from around the country to rural Central Appalachia to repair homes for low-income families.
Since 1969, we’ve made homes warmer, safer, and drier for families and provided transformational service experiences for volunteers. Each year, more than 15,000 volunteers serve with ASP, providing critical repairs for more than 350 families.
Our Mission
Appalachia Service Project is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia.
Our Vision
Appalachia Service Project envisions the eradication of substandard housing in Central Appalachia and the transformation of everyone who comes in contact with this ministry.
Our Guiding Principles
We believe that each person is a child of God imbued with dignity and worth.
We accept people right where they are and just the way they are.
We believe that all people should be able to live in affordable, safe, and sanitary housing.
We are committed to witness through the good quality of our work and careful stewardship of our resources.
We believe God calls people to serve others as volunteer partners in ministry and we will encourage their growth in faith as they answer this call.
Where ASP is involved in local communities we will encourage, affirm, and support the fair and just treatment of people.
We believe in ministering in the spirit of love, acceptance, and hopefulness.
A Note On Accepting Others At ASP
When Rev. Tex Evans founded ASP in 1969, he emphasized “accepting people right where they are and just the way they are.” This commitment extends beyond the homeowners we serve — it includes the communities we work in, every volunteer, and our staff. As we welcome diverse individuals into a shared ministry of loving our neighbors, we strive to serve well together by embracing the following as we live in community together at ASP:
We accept people right where they are, just the way they are.
We acknowledge that each person is on their own journey, and we seek to create a space where differences are welcomed and dialogue is encouraged. While we may hold diverse perspectives, we are united in our belief in the transformative power of love, grace, and service to our neighbors.
We believe that each person is a child of God, imbued with dignity and worth.
We are dedicated to fostering an environment of warmth and inclusivity for all of God’s children.
We believe in ministering in the spirit of love, acceptance, and hopefulness.
Our commitment to inclusivity stems from the teachings of Jesus Christ, who engaged all people with love and compassion. We strive to create a community where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to fully participate with ASP.
Why Home Repair? Why Central Appalachia?
ASP believes all people should be able to live in affordable, safe, and sanitary housing. Shelter is a basic human need impacting all areas of life for families. ASP addresses this basic need so families no longer need to worry about leaky roofs, soft floors, or unsafe porches and stairs.
2018 census data shows 11.8% of families in the United States live in poverty. However, Appalachian families experience poverty at a rate of 16% according to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC.gov).
ASP organizes mission trips for thousands of youth and adults each year to lend a hand to our neighbors in need in this beautiful region.