WE'LL MAKE IT HOME TOGETHER™

June 2026

On Friday, June 5th, MHO and Explore Asheville welcomed community members to Glen Rock Apartments at 372 Depot Street for the dedication of “Black Boy Joy,” the newest mural on Asheville’s Black Cultural Heritage Trail. This celebration brought this year’s NeighborWorks Week theme, Celebrating Community Together, to life. 

Local artist Tommy Lee McGee’s mural, “Black Boy Joy,” depicts a joyful young Black boy tending to his own garden, a vibrant work rooted in the people, stories, and spirit that make this community home. The dedication featured remarks from Geoffrey Barton, President and CEO of MHO; Bryan Brown, SVP, National Initiatives, NeighborWorks America; Vic Isley, President and CEO of Explore Asheville; and McGee himself. The afternoon wrapped up with ice cream sandwiches from Sunshine Sammies, a perfect treat to cap off the celebration. 

As one of NeighborWorks America's nearly 250 partner organizations, MHO is proud to help build community through art and shared experience. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and to Tommy Lee McGee for this contribution to Asheville’s cultural landscape.

MHO is pleased to announce Tara Irby as the affordable housing nonprofit's new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Tara joined MHO in February 2025, most recently serving as VP/Director of Asset Management.

“I am honored to step into the role of Chief Operating Officer at MHO…. Having served alongside MHO as a board member, community partner, and now as part of the leadership team, I have seen firsthand the impact that safe, stable, and affordable housing has on individuals, families, and communities.”

-Tara Irby 

Tara brings significant experience in affordable housing management, having previously served as a board member with MHO and collaborated on redevelopment projects for the former Lee Walker Heights and Deaverview properties while with the Asheville Housing Authority. With a thirty-year career spanning affordable housing, community development, and real estate, Tara brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to this role. Her understanding of the systems, partnerships, and challenges that shape this work, at both the organizational and community level, will be invaluable as MHO continues to grow.

MHO plans to host a Ribbon Cutting Celebration to officially dedicate Star Point Apartments on Tuesday, July 28th, from 2-3:30 PM at 16 Restaurant Court, Asheville, NC 28805. To be added to the interest list, contact Allison Rollison at allison.rollison@mtnhousing.org. More information, including registration, will be available soon!

Star Point is a 60-unit affordable housing community located off Tunnel Road at 16 Restaurant Court in Asheville, North Carolina. Special thanks to Star Point's financing partners: First Citizens Bank, RBC Bank, Dogwood Health Trust, NeighborWorks America, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the City of Asheville, and Buncombe County. O’Brien Architecture served as the project’s architect, Civil Design Concepts served as the civil design partner, and WEAVERCOOKE served as the construction partner and general contractor.

Star Point and Lakeshore Villas are now leasing!

Star Point brings 60 new affordable apartments to East Asheville off Tunnel Road, offering efficiency, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments for renters earning up to 60% AMI. Situated on Asheville's primary east-side commercial corridor, residents will have walkable access to two grocery stores, the Asheville Mall, and transit connections in both directions.

Lakeshore Villas brings 120 new affordable apartments to Arden, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom options also available to renters at up to 60% AMI. Located near the Hendersonville Road commercial corridor and I-26, residents will enjoy scenic views of Lake Julian and a range of indoor and outdoor amenities, with transit connections in both directions. Both properties are managed by Partnership Property Management (PPM).

Interested renters can visit starpointnc.com or lakeshorevillasnc.com, or call PPM at 828-575-2323.

Earlier this month, MHO partnered with Eliada Home and the Land of Sky Association of Realtors (LOTSAR) to provide home supplies for Foster Youth to Independence residents moving into their first homes at Star Point Apartments on Tunnel Road. Through a donation drive held at the LOTSAR office, community members contributed household products, home goods, first aid kits, bathroom supplies, and much more to help these young adults aging out of foster care. MHO is grateful for the generosity of all who donated and extends sincere thanks to the partners who made this effort possible: LOTSAR, Eliada Home, Goodwill, Partnership Property Management, OnTrack WNC, the City of Asheville Continuum of Care, Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers, Youth Villages, HACA, Buncombe County Health & Human Services, and Black Mountain Children's Home.

Save the date for MHO’s annual fundraising event, BUILDING HOPE, returning to Highland Brewing Company on Thursday, October 15th, 2026! Stay tuned for more details, including the run-of-show and a timeline of events! Follow along for updates at the link below.

Become a Sponsor! Check out our Building Hope Sponsor Guide or contact Allison Rollison, VP/Director of Philanthropy, at allison.rollison@mtnhousing.org or 828.254.4030 ex. 136 to learn more. 

MHO is pleased to welcome three interns for the Summer of 2026! We're excited to have them on board! Read below to learn a little about each of them:

Elier Chavez joins us this summer as our Asset Management intern! Elier is a rising sophomore at Duke University, studying Public Policy with a minor in History and a potential Human Rights certificate. He came to MHO through Duke's B&N Duke Merit Scholarship program, which places scholars in North and South Carolina nonprofits for a summer of service. With a strong interest in how policy affects people and communities, Elier plans to take what he learns here into law school after graduating in 2029. Originally from Magnolia, North Carolina, Elier spends his free time playing video games, playing and watching soccer and basketball, and going for a drive.

Sofia Nilo joins us this summer as our Communications and Engagement intern! Sofia is a second-year student at UNC Charlotte, studying Communications with a concentration in Media and Technology. As a born-and-raised Asheville local, Sofia has seen the affordable housing challenges facing her community, and was drawn specifically to the nonprofit side of this internship, where communications feels purposeful. Outside of school and work, Sofia spends her free time hiking, enjoying time with friends and family, and working at a local restaurant.

Serena Chao joins us this summer as our Community Rental Investments intern! A rising junior at UNC-Chapel Hill double-majoring in Mathematics and Business Administration (with a minor in Economics), she was drawn to MHO by a passion for affordable housing development and a desire to build her career in the field. Originally from Irvine, California, Serena has quickly fallen in love with Asheville's nature, downtown, and small business scene. Outside of work, she enjoys running, volunteering, and exploring new places with friends. A cause close to her heart is Up and Running Again, an organization that trains residents of rescue missions and homeless shelters to run half marathons, which first sparked her interest in affordable housing.

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