Housing is key to western North Carolina’s recovery from Helene, and the health care community must play an important support role

By Heidi Chan
Market President, AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina

In my recent visits to western North Carolina, I am amazed at how much has been accomplished in the year since Hurricane Helene. Roads and other infrastructure are being repaired. Most schools and businesses have reopened.

But scarred landscapes and condemned buildings reveal that while the region has come a long way, much remains to be done.

A community's ability to not only bounce back from tragedy, but thrive long term, starts with assuring safe, accessible, and attainable housing. And that effort has a direct effect on people's health.

Research shows housing insecurity makes it harder for adults to get and keep a job, and for children to succeed in school. Not having stable housing, employment, and education increase the risk of becoming sick, sustaining physical injury, and experiencing mental health challenges.

But North Carolinians don't need research to tell them that. They've lived it during the past year after Hurricane Helene exacerbated the region's existing housing insecurity issue by damaging or destroying more than 70,000 homes.

Given the health consequences of housing insecurity, it makes sense that health insurers, health care providers, and public health-focused nonprofit organizations must take an active role in the long-term work to rebuild communities. They understand the diverse needs of the people they serve, and the importance of meeting the unique needs of each community.

Our company, which offers one of the state's Medicaid Standard Plans, has contributed to this solution by making a community investment into two locally-driven, housing-related projects in the region.

The first collaboration, with nonprofits AMY Wellness Foundation and Chief Cares, will help provide housing expenses for three communities Chief Cares is constructing for Hurricane Helene survivors and core community members, such as first responders, hospital and school staff, law enforcement, and faith leaders. The first Chief Cares community, in Newland, is set to welcome its initial residents this fall.

The second project, with AMY Wellness Foundation, will help revitalize downtown Burnsville, a city in Yancey County. We are funding the conversion of a historic building owned by AMY Wellness Foundation into affordable workforce housing and space for local business.

We only need look to another major natural disaster to see the consequences of not properly addressing housing and other social determinants of health following the event. Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina slammed into southeastern Louisiana. The region's housing recovery efforts were plagued by inadequate funding, red tape, and a faulty formula that penalized low-income areas. New Orleans has lost 25% of its pre-Katrina population, and residents who remained have experienced even worse health disparities than they did before the hurricane.

Having an ample supply of attainable, quality housing is essential to building healthy, strong communities. This should help guide our combined efforts to help western North Carolina rebuild. By working together to re-establish and expand the region's housing supply, we can help it come back stronger and healthier than ever.

Heidi Chan is market president of AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina, a health plan which offers a standard benefit plan to North Carolina Medicaid enrollees. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritasnc.com .