WELCOME
Welcome to The Housing Assistance Corporation. For nearly four decades, we have been committed to ensuring that every person, regardless of income, has access to a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. What began as a grassroots effort to help underserved neighbors stay safely in their homes has grown into a robust organization offering new home construction and critical repairs. Today, with the support of generous partners, donors, and volunteers, we continue to open doors, strengthen communities, and create hope for the future – one home and one family at a time.
OUR MISSION
The Housing Assistance Corporation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe, affordable housing for people of limited income living in Henderson County, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. We believe every person deserves the dignity and security of a decent home.
DELIVERING HOPE & STABILITY
THE GARZA FAMILY STORY
Ten years ago, Judy, a single mother of 3, was homeless in Henderson County. She struggled to afford rent for a 3-bedroom apartment for 6 people. Judy was determined to break the cycle and become the first in her family to own a home.
She began preparing for homeownership with Housing Assistance’s Housing Counselor, Crystal. Crystal didn’t give up on Judy, working with her for over 4 years until she qualified for the USDA 502 Self-Help Program.
During those 4 years, Judy worked hard to further her education in healthcare, repair her credit, and qualify for the mortgage. Judy earned 65% of the home’s value in sweat equity by working alongside the construction crew until her home was completed. This equity helped to keep her mortgage affordable.
In Judy’s words, owning a home means the world to her family because she is building generational wealth and breaking the cycle of poverty for her children.
Soon, I will be the first of my family to get to say I’m a homeowner. My children and grandchildren will have a safe and secure place with this home forever.
WHEN HOUSING COSTS TOO MUCH
Across our communities, housing affordability has reached a critical tipping point. In Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties, one in four households spends more than 30% of their income on housing, leaving little room for healthcare, food, or savings. For many families, even small financial disruptions can mean losing the stability of a home.
In recent years, home prices have risen much faster than local wages, and the number of affordable rental units has sharply declined. Essential workers, retirees, and young adults are finding it harder to live where they work and grew up.
The growing affordability gap doesn’t just affect individual households; it shapes the vitality of our towns and neighborhoods. When families are forced to move farther away, schools lose students, employers lose staff, and communities lose the familiar faces that make them whole.
That’s why The Housing Assistance Corporation partners with local governments, lenders, and volunteers to create lasting housing solutions – so that every family has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.
OUR IMPACT
The Housing Assistance Corporation has developed 12 multifamily communities, providing 370 rental units in Henderson County. Since 1994, the organization has also constructed 220 affordable single-family homes, helping families achieve lasting stability through homeownership.
Homes Constructed
Aparments Constructed
Repairs Completed
OUR HISTORY
The Housing Assistance Corporation is a lifeline for families striving for safe and affordable housing. The organization began in 1988 when members of Trinity Presbyterian Church came together to complete critical home repairs for underserved neighbors, helping seniors and households in crisis remain secure in their homes. As community needs grew, so did our efforts.
In 1994, the non-profit expanded into single- and multifamily home construction, creating pathways to affordable homeownership and breaking generational barriers to stability. The first development project, Sugarloaf Apartments, specifically addressed the unmet need for decent rental housing among agricultural workers. Oklawaha Village, completed in 2021, is our newest multifamily residence.
Since joining the North Carolina Community Development Initiative in 2004, we have increased our multifamily and single-family housing production by 50%. Additionally, we began offering financial education services for future homeowners. These services include one-on-one housing counseling at no cost to the individual.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating effects on the region in 2024, The Housing Assistance Corporation added a new department focused on disaster recovery home repairs. We have increased our staffing to provide disaster case management and additional project management, and have joined the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, NCVOAD. Together with our partners, we continue building hope for the future – one home, one family, and one dream at a time.
