Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County is a non-profit organization that has promoted healthy, safe, and affordable housing for over 20 years in a mountain county where 25% of residents live in substandard housing. CHC is the only agency in Madison County providing services at no expense to its low-income clients, most of whom come from underserved populations, including older adults, differently abled, single parents (or grandparents), and veterans.

WNC Bridge Foundation awarded CHC a three-year capacity grant to support the organization’s Affordable Replacement Housing Program, which aims to replace substandard housing for homeowners living at or below 80% or area medium income. The need to replace people’s older homes is directly tied to the fact that nearly all of CHC’s clients live in stick-built houses built before 1940 or in mobile homes. Older mobile homes make up one-quarter of Madison County’s housing stock. Though affordable at the time of purchase, mobile homes typically require major repairs within 20 years, including roof replacement, electrical overhaul, and new flooring.

Community Housing Coalition’s Affordable Replacement Housing Program was launched in 2022 to provide new construction replacement homes for clients whose homes cannot be repaired. Partnering with WNC Bridge Foundation, Asheville Regional Housing Consortium, and Dogwood Health Trust, the goal is to build four energy-efficient homes by the end of 2024, leveraging existing water, electric, and septic systems. WNC Bridge funds are providing salary support to CHC’s house replacement manager, Matthew Bennet, who oversees the development, design, and construction of the homes.

Celina Uribe is the program’s first replacement home recipient. CHC had provided frequent urgent repairs to Uribe’s former home, including roofing and plumbing overhauls. Uribe shared with The Asheville Citizen-Times, “I feel really blessed and honored that I was given this opportunity. It’s an amazing program that I’m so excited about, and so proud that our county is taking part in this program and that Community Housing Coalition is leading the force in affordable housing in this community.”