We’re Building a Community Our first village of deeply affordable homes is nearing the completion stage. And we are already planning for replication. The first BeLoved Village is located in East Asheville and consists of 12 homes ranging in square footage from 440-625 square feet and includes both one and two bedroom units built into community. Each unit comes fully furnished with all major appliances including a washer and dryer. The design of the homes includes ample porches, nestled along walking paths allowing the Village to live up to that name. Additionally, there is designated community space that residents will develop together including community gardens and recreational/gathering space for mind, body, and community wellness. Once our multifamily development is completed, the community building begins. Residents will be chosen from an applicant pool based on demonstrated need, an income level around 15-50% AMI (Area Median Income), and other criteria. A Village council will be formed and rules will be written by the residents – with the aid of expert facilitators – to give meaningful structure to their community. An innovative solution to the housing crisia where social connections and equity lead to better health, more opportunities, and long-term stability for working poor families, African American and Latinx communities suffering from gentrification, elders living on fixed income, people with differing abilities, and people living on the streets. The BeLoved Village is a neighborhood within a neighborhood on an opportunity corridor with job opportunities, groceries, schools, and health clinics nearby. Everyone deserves the comfort and dignity of home.
In the wake of the death of Janet Jones on the streets of Asheville, We knew we had to do something. We began meeting together with a circle of directly impacted people at BeLoved. Together, we set out to do the impossible. Create deeply affordable homes that every day people in our community could afford and create a path to equity for everyone. We launched our first BeLoved Village and have partnered with our community at large and more than 100 community groups, schools, and businesses including the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We’ve received in-kind donations from architects, civil engineers, land surveyors and other industry professionals. And additional generous contributions from the greater Asheville community, We have received numerous awards including the WNC Stars Humanitarian Project of the Year and a national Lowe’s Hometowns Grant. And we have had thousands of community volunteers participating in the project from age 4 to 84 and everywhere in between. This has truly been a community effort! We are also proud to be sharing our model solution with groups around the country from California to Florida from New York to New Orleans from Virginia Beach to Lexington, VA, from Wake Forest and Hickory to Brevard and Woodfin. We are looking for our next piece of land for our second BeLoved Village. We invite you to help us find our next location and continue to make a difference to our neighbors suffering in the housing crisis. Consider sponsoring a home in our second BeLoved Village. Contact us for more information.
