This is the second year that The Biltmore Company has sponsored a Habitat house. Their benefit Build More 2008 raised enough money to fully sponsor a Habitat house in 2009 and partially sponsor a house this year.
At a recent birthday celebration for Eleanor and Charles Owen, their friends surprised them with the announcement that they were going to partially sponsor a Habitat home in their honor. Instead of bearing gifts, friends made donations to Asheville Area Habitat and they will help build the Biltmore-Owen House.
June 23, 2010
TYPE: 2 Bedroom
STYLE: Arts & Crafts
HOUSE SIZE: 884 square feet
LOCATION: 6 Springmill Drive
Lot 18 Woodland Court
CONSTRUCTION START: March 9, 2010
SPONSORS: The Biltmore Company
Friends of Eleanor and Charlie Owen
STATUS: Construction complete, closing scheduled
Olga volunteering
at the Home Store
Olga Mihailuc
Like many Buncombe County residents, Olga Mihailuc works two jobs and still can not afford to buy a home. Olga has been employed at Ross’ Department store since 2005 and also works for SSC Cleaning Services.
She rents an apartment in a complex known for drug activity, frequent vandalism and other illegal activities. In addition, the unit itself has a myriad of issues, all of which have been ignored by property management despite her best efforts. When it rains, her walls and floor get wet. She feels as though she is heating the outside due to such poor insulation and a large gap under the front door. She has taken it upon herself to try to fix some of the problems, but it seems like a losing battle.
Olga began volunteering at the Habitat Home Store in March of 2009, and has been a wonderful addition to the volunteer team. Not long after she began volunteering, Home Store staff encouraged Olga to apply for a Habitat house. She met the criteria and was thrilled to be approved.
Olga is looking forward to owning her own home in a safe neighborhood, where she can plant flowers in her yard and walk around without worrying about her personal safety.
