About the House

TYPE: 1 Bedroom/ 1 Bath

STYLE: Arts & Crafts

HOUSE SIZE: 744 square feet

LOCATION: Lot 12, Construction site off Glenn Bridge Rd SE in Arden

CONSTRUCTION START: Tuesday, May 2, 2023

STATUS:

Meet the Future Homeowner

“Since my husband passed, the bills are too high to afford by myself. Now that I am alone, I am looking for long-term security.”

-From Nina’s application letter

Future Habitat homebuyer, Nina Cojuhari moved with her husband from Moldova to Asheville in 2018, to be close to their daughter. She is thankful to have family nearby now since her husband’s unfortunate passing in 2021. After her husband passed, she also lost the safety net of a dual-income household, leading her to double her hours at her retail job at Dillard’s to make ends meet.

At her job, Nina has received awards for perfect attendance and employee of the month, earning a full-time position in a role that is typically reserved for part-time work. Despite her resilience and work ethic, most Asheville rental units are well out of her price range.

In her current subsidized rental, Nina deals with regular flooding every time it rains, and the mold that comes in its wake. In addition to the hazardous conditions, Nina tells Habitat that living in the home she shared with her husband brings constant reminders of the loss. Unable to afford rent on the traditional market, she has applied to several other subsidized rental complexes, which have left her on an endless waitlist.

Now, Nina is on her way to purchasing an Aging-in-Place townhome, where she will have an affordable mortgage, and a universally accessible design, allowing her to stay in her home for decades to come. In her new Habitat home, Nina looks forward to having financial stability and security, as well as a peaceful retirement, which she feels would not be possible without Habitat.

About the Sponsor

The design and construction of these Aging in Place homes is made possible through our partnership with, and the generosity of Deerfield Charitable Foundation, and the Board and Residents of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community. The Adopt-a-Lot sponsor is Eva and Ken Mellert.