In recognition of the City of Asheville’s commitment to the creation and expansion of affordable housing, a local organization decided to donate a quarter of a million dollars toward the effort. Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community is donating $250,000 to the Asheville Affordable Housing Trust to assist in the City’s efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing for our residents.
“The generosity demonstrated by Deerfield in making this gift is overwhelming — the residents of Deerfield are wonderful community partners,” said Mayor Esther E. Manheimer. “This donation will have a great impact on the City’s ability to add more affordable housing for people who need it.”
Founded in 1955 on 30 acres and with the purpose to provide housing for retired clergy and widows of retired clergy, Deerfield today is a community on 125 acres with 650 residents and more than 300 employees. It has always been a vital part of Deerfield’s mission, and personally for the residents and employees, to support local organizations and people in the greater Western North Carolina community.
“We recognize and appreciate that one of Asheville’s highest priorities is to create more affordable housing options and we are pleased to participate in those efforts by giving this gift to the City of Asheville,” said Deerfield CEO Robert Wernet. “We feel that this can be a lasting legacy contribution for the Asheville Affordable Housing Trust.”
The City of Asheville’s Housing Trust Fund was created in 2000 to provide a source of local funding to assist in the development of affordable housing in Asheville. Assistance is available in the form of repayable loans at a low rate of interest. This gift is significant and represents half of the overall budget for the current Housing Trust Fund. These additional dollars will allow us to continue to make loans to produce, preserve and protect affordable housing and engage new and existing developers in partnership.
This donation is an example of how, working together, the City and private institutions can move the needle on one of our most pressing social issues. Organizations interested in partnering with the City on affordable housing are encouraged to contact Paul D’Angelo, Community Development Program Director at pdangelo@ashevillenc.gov or 828-251-4098.
Find out more about the City’s Affordable Housing Initiative at this link.