WHO WE ARE

Mountain Housing Opportunities Founded

MHO was organized by a group of volunteers concerned with the declining housing stock and lack of affordable and decent housing units for low-income people. They first connected at a conference called Nonprofit Housing Development for Low-Income People. During the event, keynote speaker Dave Lollis of the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises advised participants to take direct action, saying “go out and build a handrail on Aunt Mary’s front porch”.

These volunteers took that statement to heart. That summer, they brought ladders, tools, and materials to repair the roof of an elderly homeowner in Leicester, NC. In July of 1988, the group of volunteers incorporated as Mountain Housing Opportunities and launched its founding program, Essential Home Repair. 

In 1989, Cindy Visnich Weeks was hired as MHO’s first Executive Director. In 1993, Scott Dedman, after serving as chair of MHO’s Board of Directors, joined as MHO’s President & CEO.

MHO helps launch WECAN

The West End/Clingman Avenue Neighborhood (WECAN) association was incorporated to help revitalize this historic neighborhood on the edge of downtown Asheville. MHO has helped guide traffic planning, beautification, and housing development in partnership with WECAN since it’s inception. MHO has created and revitalized over 50 homes in the WECAN neighborhood.

Merritt Park, first affordable condo development, opens

Merritt Park is a 16-unit condominium complex located in the WECAN Neighborhood, which formerly housed the MHO offices for 20+ years.

MHO launches Down Payment Assistance Program

Neighborhood Housing Services of Asheville donated their Home Loan Portfolio to MHO in 2007, launching MHO’s Downpayment Assistance Program. The MHO Loan Fund offers a new down payment assistance program to help new homeowners fill the cash gap between the amount of their first mortgage and the total cost of purchasing a home. MHO’s Loan Fund was incorporated in 2009 and certified as a Community Financial Development Institution (CDFI) in 2010.

Glen Rock Apartments receives LEED Gold Certification

Completed in 2010, Glen Rock is a mixed-use building with 60 apartments and over 9,000 square feet of commercial space located in Asheville’s River Arts District. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon and cost-saving green buildings.

Eagle Market Place opens in downtown Asheville

In partnership with Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation, MHO opens Eagle Market Place Apartments, a 62-unit mixed-use historic rehabilitation, anchored in “The Block”, home to Asheville’s traditional African-American business district. With the completion of Eagle Market Place, MHO reached a milestone of 1,000+ affordable apartments developed and financed since incorporating as a CHDO in 1993.

Maple Crest at Lee Walker Heights Complete

MHO completed construction on Maple Crest Apartments, formerly Lee Walker Heights, Asheville’s oldest public housing complex. In partnership with the Asheville Housing Authority, MHO expanded the total number of apartments from 96 to 212, more than doubling the number of affordable homes for individuals and families in this community. Maple Crest also marked a green building milestone for MHO, with over 580 solar panels installed.

Geoffrey Barton Named President & CEO

Mountain Housing Opportunities is pleased to announce Geoffrey Barton as the affordable housing non-profit’s new President and CEO. Geoffrey replaces Scott Dedman, who retired in 2023 after 30 years in the role.

Groundbreaking for 264 Affordable Housing Units

MHO begins work on more than 264 new affordable apartments across three sites, preserving 300 existing affordable units at seven locations, and developing over 120 new affordable homes in three Buncombe County communities.