Built to Last: Celebrating MHO's Partnership & Impact with Dogwood Health Trust
Founded in 2018, Dogwood Health Trust works to dramatically improve the health and wellness of all people and communities in the 18 counties and Qualla Boundary of western North Carolina. Dogwood carries the caring spirit of Mission’s founding communities forward by addressing the upstream factors that influence the well- being of individuals, families, and communities: housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness.
With housing as a primary focus, Dogwood made an inaugural grant to MHO in 2020, which underwrote the creation of our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. That plan created a roadmap for strategic growth and kicked off a transformational partnership to create and preserve affordable housing to serve WNC residents for generations to come.
“Dogwood Health Trust is a catalytic force for good in the lives of people and communities who call our mountains home. We at MHO gratefully acknowledge Dogwood’s extraordinary support of our efforts to address our region’s housing crisis. In just six years, Dogwood has moved the needle toward a healthier, more equitable, and more resilient area for future residents, benefiting future generations.”
—Geoffrey Barton, President & CEO of MHO
“Our partnership with Mountain Housing Opportunities has grown because they understand
both the urgency of the housing challenges facing western North Carolina and what it takes
to create lasting solutions. Over the past six years, we’ve had the opportunity to support MHO
in many different ways, and we’ve seen them consistently turn those resources into
meaningful results for communities. That kind of trust allows us to think bigger together,
respond when needs change, and keep looking for new ways to get more housing resources
working for the people who need them.”
—Sarah Grymes, Vice President of Community Engagement, Dogwood Health Trust
Preserving Housing for Vulnerable Neighbors
- A property acquisition grant allowed MHO to save 80 units of supportive housing serving neighbors living with disabilities, permitting current residents to stay housed and stable.
- In 2025, MHO was awarded a $150,000 grant to support the well being of older adults through Essential Home Repair.
Fueling New Construction in Buncombe and Haywood Counties
- A predevelopment grant for Star Point Apartments readied the project for a successful financial close. Opened in Summer 2026.
- A complementary grant and lending partnership ensured Lakeshore Villas moved from blueprint to construction. Opened in Summer 2026.
- A land acquisition grant led to Balsam Edge, MHO’s first Haywood County development. Opening in Spring 2027.
- $1M grant to build 60+ affordable homes in the Leicester community called Pentland Hills.
Helene Response and Resilience
- A flexible disaster response grant provided rental assistance for more than 1,100 households, plus moving and temporary housing costs for flood-displaced residents.
- Allowed MHO to resume home repair and new construction efforts quickly, fueling long-term housing recovery and resilience.
Strengthening Programs and Operations
- A general operating grant strengthened MHO’s Down Payment Assistance program and helped launch a Resident Services initiative in 2024 and 2025.
- In 2025, MHO received a $50,000 capacity building grant to strengthen resource development and finance processes.
Expanding Access to Housing Capital
- Dogwood partnered with Self-Help Credit Union to establish the Western NC Affordable Housing Loan Fund in 2024. MHO was among the first to secure financing from this new source, which allowed us to start construction on Balsam Edge in Waynesville.
- In 2025, Dogwood awarded MHO a 10-year $8.5M Program-Related Investment (PRI), expanding MHO’s ability to nimbly deploy capital to preserve existing affordable housing, acquire land, and bridge financing for rehab and new construction.
