ELRANGER, Ky. — A local vintage car collection has opened its doors to the public to benefit Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK), a local housing nonprofit. 

Emily Csinsi, HONK employee, said while she doesn’t know much about cars, the collection takes her back to her childhood.

“The really nice thing about this collection is that it spans so many decades and it means different things to different people," she said. "I grew up with my mom having a Cadillac, and this feels very familiar to me.”

The Kentucky native, who has been working for the nonprofit for nearly six months, spends most of her days helping build homes.

“I think that the most exciting thing that I've done so far was framing in new walls, new support walls for a house,” Csinsi said.

Since 1991, HONK has helped Northern Kentucky families pursue homeownership through affordable housing projects.

“Over the course of six months or so, we transform them into really beautiful new houses for families, individuals, anybody who fits into the criteria for our program," Csinsi said. 

A housing study by eight counties in Northern Kentucky found the region will need nearly 6,700 new homes in the next five years to keep up with  demand, and half will need to be built for low-income families. But cities need help to make that happen. 

The organization felt the holidays were a great time to open up the space, Csinsi said. 

“I'm getting so much knowledge and so many skills that I can use on my own house and my own projects, as well as being able to help everybody that I can in the community," she said. 

Thanks to volunteers such as Csinsi and Collection21, Northern Kentucky can work to build one house at a time.

The collection is open Dec. 18-23. Volunteers will host the event for a suggested entry donation of $15. Kids 12 and under get in free.