House Story - Kim Folston

Kim Folston is someone who may need to be reintroduced to a lot of our new folks. Her story is definitely one of resilience, patience, and transformation. She was with HoM from day 1 having just gotten out of incarceration. Kim was also on our first Leadership Team.

She is an Asheville native who grew up in the historic East End. She tells stories of sitting on the hill and watching the City put in the I-240 "Cut." But like most African-American families in her neighborhood, she was displaced due to "Urban Renewal" projects. No one in her family had ever owned a home. That is until Kim. In prison, Kim began attending the Bible study that Jane Derrick started, and her life started to turn around. When she got out she did the hard, hard work of re-entering society. She got a job as a CNA, and began to save up to buy a home.

So many African Americans in Asheville have been forced to leave because of affordability, but Asheville is Kim's home and she was determined to stay. As a form of reparations, House of Mercy joyfully worked with her and when Kim was finally approved for a loan, HoM paid the down payment. Kim would not have been able to become the first person in her entire family to own a home, and we would not be the same as a church without her. We love you, Kim!!