HomeTrust volunteers will work on Asheville Area Habitat’s 6th Women Build House, which will become home to the Nunez family. It’s the fifth year that HomeTrust employees have participated in this community project.
The media is invited to visit with the HomeTrust Bank women volunteers at the construction site, 268 Virginia Avenue, Asheville, on March 23 and/or March 25 between 10am and 3pm for the opportunity to take photos and conduct interviews.
Christine Dozier, HomeTrust Bank Mortgage Lender and 5-year Habitat volunteer commented, “As bankers, we’re experienced with helping our customers build their credit and with facilitating the financing for their homes. Helping with the actual building of a home gives us the opportunity to share in a life-changing event for the new homeowner. It’s a truly rewarding experience and we are thrilled to help with this annual Habitat initiative.”
In addition to participating in Women Build, HomeTrust Bank was a sponsor of the 2006 Bankers/WCQS House, and they previously supported a Habitat capital campaign. Furthermore, HomeTrust has been the local sponsoring bank for Asheville Area Habitat’s loans from Federal Home Loan Bank-Atlanta. As the sponsoring bank, they help facilitate funding opportunities like a recent $100,000 forgivable loan for Habitat’s new Carney Place neighborhood (the site of this year’s Women Build House). To date, HomeTrust Bank’s sponsorship of Federal Home Loan Bank grants for Asheville Area Habitat has totaled $350,000, reducing the mortgage of each homeowner by $10,000. Regionally, the HomeTrust Banking Partnership has contributed nearly $1.4 million in similar grants to Habitat affiliates in Buncombe, Henderson and Haywood Counties over the past 15 years.
“We are fortunate to have the financial expertise and support of HomeTrust Bank, as well as their hands-on participation in our building program. It is partnerships like this that enable us to provide safe and affordable housing to folks like Maria Nunez and her family,” notes Ed McGowan, finance director for Asheville Area Habitat.
Since 1983, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity has welcomed 213 Buncombe County families to safe, decent and affordable houses. Habitat homes, which are HealthyBuilt certified, are sold at no profit to partner families, who pay back a no-interest loan. The organization is also offering a new program, A Brush With Kindness, that focuses on revitalizing existing homes in our community.
