Mitchell-Yancey Habitat for Humanity’s new partner, Deloris Braswell, is looking forward to moving into her new home in Mitchell County in March 2023.
The home build started 10 months ago and is progressing through mostly the work of volunteers.
Braswell had looked for affordable housing for herself and two grandchildren without luck.
“Finding affordable housing is very, very hard,” she said. “Everything’s so expensive. I’ve found there’s really nothing out there.”
Braswell’s former employer encouraged her to apply for an M-Y Habitat house.
Once her application was approved, Braswell helped with the build most Saturdays, as part of the partnership.
“I’ve painted, installed and caulked windows,” Braswell said. “I even took trim home, painted it and took it back to the work site. But I’ve not climbed on the roof, I’m afraid of heights.”
Braswell said the entire process, from applying to helping with the build, has been seamless.
“It’s been wonderful,” Braswell said. “Everyone at M-Y Habitat is great. Jim Erlandson and Misty Evans have coached me through all of it.”
Braswell said she’s looking forward to having a safe place for her grandkids to grow up in.
As M-Y Habitat finishes the house for Braswell and her family, the organization is searching for a new partner family and property in Yancey County.
Anyone who knows of buildable plots in the area that could be donated or sold reasonably can contact M-Y Habitat. The organization also seeks information on families who own land but need a home or houses on land that are beyond repair that could be removed and replaced with a new home.
Call Misty at the Habitat Restore at 766-9600 for info on volunteering or to give information about potential partners and land.
M-Y Habitat for 30 years has helped families in need move into new or newly renovated homes. The organization will have a booth at Ole Timey Days on Sept. 24 on the Burnsville Square.
The booth will display a map of all M-Y Habitat projects in the two-county area over the past 30 years. M-Y Habitat will also raffle a print of an old homestead.