Women Build #18
About the House
TYPE: 2 Bedroom/ 2 Bath
STYLE: two-story, walk-out townhome
HOUSE SIZE: 1,672 square feet
LOCATION: Lot 30, Construction site at New Heights, off of Old Haywood Rd
CONSTRUCTION START: Tuesday, July 19, 2022
STATUS: painting, caulking
Meet the Future Homeowner
“I want to have a yard for my son to play in and to have something I can call my own.”
~ From Melvin’s application letter
Melvin Allen is an Asheville native and a single father to his 10-year-old son. Melvin supports their family as a bus driver for the Christine W. Avery Learning Center, where he is also involved in their mission. Community is important to this family, and they look forward to growing in their community as future homeowners in New Heights.
Melvin is determined to raise his son in the same city where he grew up, but an unsustainable living situation and rising rent prices have made saving for homeownership a challenge. The family rents a lot in a trailer park where their rent has steadily increased, despite neglectful property management. The roads leading out of their park are impassable after bad weather, leaving the family unable to work or get supplies after storms. In his application, Melvin expressed his wish of providing his son with not only a permanent home, but a big yard and enough room to play.
Recently, Melvin was approved to purchase a 2-bedroom townhome in New Heights. He feels he is leading by example for his son and creating something he can leave behind. With an affordable Habitat mortgage, this family can remain in the city they love and build generational wealth.
About the Sponsor
Melvin’s future home is the 18th Women Build House in honor of Robin Clark, made possible by Quility and Francee and Richard Healy. The Adopt-a-Lot is sponsored in honor of three wonderful women-Mary Gurland, Bethany Williams, and Mandy McCullock.
