About the House

TYPE: 3 Bedroom/ 1.5 Bath

STYLE: Single-family home

HOUSE SIZE: 1,064 square feet

LOCATION: on Soulshine Court in Habitat’s West Asheville neighborhood Hudson Hills

CONSTRUCTION START: Tuesday, April 18, 2023

STATUS:

Meet the Future Homeowners

“A home is the special place where peace, love, and joy should flourish.”

-From Jin Bin and Qi’s application letter

Six years ago, Jin Bin, native to China, moved to Asheville. Two years later, his wife Qi and young son were able to follow him. In no time, the family of three fell in love with Asheville’s weather, scenery, and most of all, the friendly people they met along the way. Qi and Jin Bin have immersed themselves in Asheville culture by working in the buzzing restaurant industry and taking English classes at AB-Tech.

Since moving to Asheville, the family has had to move from one apartment to the next, chasing affordability in the face of regular rent hikes. Despite their efforts, they are still cost burdened, paying more than 30% of their income on rent before taxes and other essential living expenses. After welcoming their second child to the world last spring, the pressure to find stability mounted.

By partnering with Habitat, Jin Bin and Qi will purchase a 3-bedroom home in Asheville Habitat’s Hudson Hills neighborhood in West Asheville. In addition to being able to save for the future, Jin Bin tells Habitat that he looks forward to being free from the constant need to move. As a result, his children will have a stable place to call home and be able to stay in one school district. As he tells Habitat, “This would mean everything to our family; it would give our children a more meaningful life.”

About the Sponsor

People move for all kinds of reasons, and when it makes sense, Asheville Habitat exercises our right to repurchase, make renovations, and then sell the home to another individual or family who qualifies for our program.

This preserves affordable housing stock and provides another family, like Jin Bin and Qi’s, with the opportunity to improve their housing. The couple will purchase a previously owned Habitat home that is energy-efficient and Green Built-certified.