WE'LL MAKE IT HOME TOGETHER™

January 2024

MHO receives $2.5M EQ2 Investment from First Citizens Bank

We are pleased to announce a transformational $2.5 million capital investment from First Citizens Bank, provided in the form of an Equity Equivalent Investment (EQ2). This catalytic investment provides flexible capital that MHO will deploy to finance its active development pipeline as well as to acquire and secure land for new affordable rental and homeownership developments.

“First Citizens Bank is delivering on their commitment to empower low-income and marginalized communities through lending, investment, and philanthropy. This investment demonstrates the type of strong collaboration our region needs to scale our ability to address our housing affordability crisis. We hope that investments like this signal to other potential funders that MHO is an organization of choice for social benefit investments and we intend to leverage this EQ2 for exponential impact.”

- Geoffrey Barton, President & CEO

Mountain Housing Opportunities

Remembering Wyatt Stevens

MHO mourns the loss of longstanding supporter and fierce advocate, Wyatt S. Stevens. Wyatt first connected to MHO while volunteering alongside his parents, Jack and Cissie Stevens, as parishioners of Trinity Episcopal Church. Wyatt later joined MHO’s Board of Directors, serving from 2000-2007. Wyatt served on MHO’s Executive Search Committee in 2023, successfully installing MHO’s new President & CEO, Geoffrey Barton, after Scott Dedman’s retirement.

MHO is grateful for Wyatt’s invaluable contributions over nearly three decades, including his leadership in gaining zoning approval for Larchmont Apartments and his exemplary work to resolve challenges during the development of historic Eagle Market Place, ensuring that these and many other affordable communities will serve residents for generations to come.

Wyatt will be remembered for the expertise, tenacity, and integrity he exhibited as a partner and career attorney at Roberts & Stevens. A true son of Asheville, Wyatt was a champion for this region, its people, and its bountiful natural resources. We celebrate his life and legacy of “doing the right thing” in service to justice, kindness, and love. We hold Wyatt’s family, colleagues, and many friends in our hearts during this difficult time.

The Stevens family have kindly requested memorial gifts be directed to Mountain Housing Opportunities in lieu of flowers. To read Wyatt Steven’s full obituary, please click here. If you would like to make a gift in tribute to Wyatt, please click below.

Service Recognition

We wish to recognize Anthony Thomas and Treva Williams as they complete their service as members and officers of MHO’s Board of Directors. Treva joined MHO’s Board in 2018 and Anthony joined in 2019. Their leadership, alongside fellow MHO Board members, helped us to achieve significant regional impact, including:

• Completion of 46 new homes in Weaverville at Lillie Farm Cove, 12 townhomes in Swannanoa, and 6 new USDA Self-Help homes in Enka-Candler (with 6 more underway)

• Completion of Eagle Market Place, East Haven, and Maple Crest, totaling 369 affordable apartments and 8,000 sq ft of commercial and community space

• Rapid response to urgent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including food distribution, health and safety supplies, and rental assistance

• Development and implementation of an ambitious five-year Strategic Plan, 2020-2025

• Expansion of MHO's Essential Home Repair program under the Medicaid Healthy Opportunities Pilot initiative, and

• Executive leadership transition after the retirement of MHO’s President and CEO of 30 years

Thank you, Anthony and Treva, for your dedicated service to our MHO Community!