Mosaic's Support of Pisgah Legal Helps Promote Housing Security in Asheville

Why We Support Pisgah Legal

At Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty, supporting area non-profit organizations is an important component of our philosophy. Lifting up the lives of individuals serves to lift up the city as a whole. Mosaic is proud to have given more than $115,000 to 70 non-profit and community organizations in 2019. In addition, representatives of Mosaic regularly volunteer time organizing and assisting these community initiatives. 

Among the organizations Mosaic supports is Pisgah Legal Services. Pisgah Legal provides free legal assistance to people living in poverty throughout Western North Carolina to help them avoid eviction and homelessness, stay safe from domestic violence, access much-needed health insurance and health care, and stabilize their immigration status. 

In 2019, more than 18,800 neighbors from across the region improved their lives with help from Pisgah Legal. With affordable housing an issue in the area, Pisgah Legal believes in intervening to keep people in their homes so they’re not stuck searching for a new home that they can afford. 

Cristin's Story

To better understand just how necessary Pisgah Legal’s services, consider the story of Cristin, a single mother raising two daughters while attending school and working. When Cristin’s subsidized rent doubled unexpectedly, her busy life didn’t give her the time to investigate why. She knew that she couldn’t afford the increase without cutting back on food, childcare and other basic needs. She couldn’t find a way to make things work, and her landlord took her to court for non-payment of rent.

Cristin was intimidated and unsure about how to advocate for herself in the courtroom. The judge told her she had 30 days to pay her past-due balance or move out. Pisgah Legal Services attorney Thomas Lodwick was at the courthouse as part of the Tenant Eviction Response Program, which places Pisgah Legal attorneys in the courthouse to assist people facing eviction. This is often the last line of defense against homelessness. Thomas discovered an error in Cristin's rent calculation and negotiated an affordable payment plan for the back rent. Cristin's case was dismissed. She was able to stay in her home, finish her degree and move from part-time to full-time employment.

According to Cristin, “If Thomas wasn’t in that courtroom, I would have lost my home. He really stepped up when I needed the help."

Learn More

Pisgah Legal invites you to visit their website at www.pisgahlegal.org to donate to the cause, learn more, or sign up for a bi-monthly Justice Matters Tour.

To learn more about how Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty is committed to being the change it seeks, visit https://mymosaicrealty.com/donations-volunteer-program/.

To find out more about Real Estate in Asheville, contact Mosaic Realty owner/broker Mike Figura at Mike@MyMosaicRealty.com, or all him anytime at 828-337-8190.

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