Rural communities are beneficiaries of the wild beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but their relative isolation can lead to unexpected challenges — especially regarding healthcare access. So Asheville-based nonprofit Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) is opening the door to a housing pilot program for area health sciences students.
Residency programs in rural locations help address a physician shortage, but housing for medical residents presents a problem. A limited rental market leads to students having trouble getting a secure, affordable roof over their heads.
So MAHEC, which works to improve WNC healthcare professionals’ training and retention, is building tiny homes. The four dwellings in Sylva will be available to health sciences students rotating in surrounding communities. Although provision of housing is common for healthcare training, it’s the first time tiny homes have been used for any of NC’s nine AHECs.
