WE'LL MAKE IT HOME TOGETHER™

August 2025

Owning a home feels out of reach for many in our region. MHO's Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA) can help bridge the gap between the amount of your first mortgage and the total cost of purchasing a home. While these flexible funds are often applied towards a down payment, they can also cover closing costs and increase your total purchasing power.

Down Payment Assistance lending helps hardworking individuals and families achieve homeownership. This year, MHO has closed 12 DPA loans, providing more than $307,000 in financing, including $150,000 through MHO-assisted programs, supporting $3.9 million in total affordable housing sales. MHO helped a local public servant achieve the financing she needed to purchase her first home. A single mom and former life-long resident of public housing, this newly minted homeowner is already looking forward to helping her young daughter become a homeowner herself one day.

Interested in learning more about Down Payment Assistance? Click below or contact Angi Welch, MHO Loan Officer, at 828-254-4030, ext. 127 or at angi@mtnhousing.org. 

On July 23rd, MHO and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the reopening of the Residences at the Glen Rock Hotel and the revitalized commercial spaces at 372 & 408 Depot Street following extensive repairs from Tropical Storm Helene! 

Both 372 and 408 Depot Street experienced significant damage from flooding in the River Arts District, with 408 Depot Street left without power for several months. Nine months later, the Residences at the Glen Rock Hotel reopened its 22 affordable apartments, and businesses in both buildings gradually resumed operations. A heartfelt thanks to our many partners, residents, and business owners who joined us to celebrate this important post-Helene recovery milestone!

The need for affordable housing in western North Carolina has never been greater. MHO is working to meet this need through the development of new affordable rental communities and new affordable homes for sale, including the preservation of existing affordable rental communities.

Currently, MHO has over 600 new affordable apartments across five sites and the preservation of 360 existing affordable apartments on eight sites, along with over 120 new affordable homes in development. Click through the link below to learn more about future developments! 

Kimberly Driggers joined MHO in August as the Grants Officer, bringing extensive and incredible expertise as a seasoned fund development professional who has made grant writing and management her passion.

Kimberly is the founder and principal of Incipt, LLC, a grant writing and management consultancy, with extensive experience in strategic grant development, capacity building, and community-driven fundraising. She has partnered with organizations ranging from grassroots startups to established institutions, including the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, The Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Cultural Arts Center, and Rock N’ Roll Rescue, helping them unlock institutional revenue and strengthen grant-seeking practices.

With a BA in English from the College of Charleston and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arkansas, Kimberly brings a writer’s attention to detail and storytelling to her work, complemented by her achievements as an award-winning poet and contributor to Writer in the Schools programs. Rooted deeply in Appalachian heritage, including her grandfather’s role in the Bluegrass scene and generations of family ties to the region, she carries a personal connection to its culture and communities that fuels her passion for MHO’s mission of building homes, neighborhoods, and hope.

When she’s not crafting compelling proposals, she enjoys downtown Asheville life, exploring trails and rivers with her pup Duri, and supporting local farms and farmers' markets. We’re delighted to welcome her to the MHO team!

Tim Williams joined MHO in July as the Financial Analyst, bringing over a decade of experience in public sector and nonprofit financial management, program management, and operations.

Previously, he served as a Senior Budget Analyst at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, where he managed a $163 billion federal budget and helped launch the Summer EBT program, delivering nutrition benefits to more than 25 million children. While much of his background is in food systems and nutrition policy, Tim sees a strong connection to affordable housing, noting that both are about ensuring people have consistent access to basic needs. At MHO, he is eager to use his financial and analytical skills to strengthen systems, improve reporting, and advance housing justice.

Originally from Charlotte, Tim enjoys bike rides, thrift shopping, and a sunny day by the river. He’s energized to be part of a team dedicated to building equity and opportunity in western North Carolina, and grateful for the chance to continue contributing to the place he now calls home. We are thrilled to welcome Tim to the MHO team!

Get Your Tickets!

BUILDING HOPE is Wednesday, October 15!

Join us for MHO’s signature annual fundraiser and celebration, BUILDING HOPE: An Evening for Affordable Housing, on October 15th, 2025! This year, we are taking BUILDING HOPE to Asheville’s River Arts District for a “RAD Edition!” We are excited to partner with The Radical Hotel and the local businesses, artists, and residents that call this unique neighborhood home.



We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the strength and resilience of our community in the face of long-term recovery. Event registration is now open. Click the link below to learn more and get your tickets today!

Become a Sponsor!

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

Are you a River Arts District-based business, artist, or resident? Check out our special RAD Neighbor sponsorship for only $100!

LEARN MORE ABOUT MHO'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS

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