Raleigh N.C. — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai will travel to Hendersonville on Thursday to highlight ongoing mental health and recovery services for communities affected by Hurricane Helene. The visit will include stops at two community organizations central to the region’s recovery: Love and Respect Community for Recovery and Wellness and Caja Solidaria.
The visits aim to draw attention to critical behavioral health resources, including the state’s Hope4NC program and the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP), both of which provide essential support to people recovering from the hurricane’s impact.
At 12:45 p.m., Secretary Sangvai will visit Love and Respect, a peer-run shelter offering “no-barriers” access to mental health care and support services. Since Hurricane Helene, the shelter has seen a sharp increase in people seeking help. Love and Respect offers services at no cost, including mental health support, enrollment in NC Medicaid, and connections to the Healthy Opportunities Pilot.
During the visit, officials will provide updates on Hope4NC, a $12.4 million crisis outreach initiative launched in 25 counties hit hardest by Helene. Trained crisis counselors have conducted door-to-door outreach, offering emotional support, referrals, and direct counseling. Since its launch in September 2024, the program has delivered over 11,300 counseling services, conducted more than 200,000 outreach contacts, and answered more than 7,300 helpline calls. Hope4NC also operates a 24/7 confidential helpline for those in distress.
In addition to federal and state efforts, the North Carolina General Assembly recently appropriated $25 million to further strengthen mental health services in storm-affected communities. This funding will expand crisis services, support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), provide transitional housing for unhoused veterans, and improve access to behavioral health care in rural areas. It will also support opioid treatment efforts, peer support services, and disaster preparedness training for frontline workers.
Following the visit to Love and Respect, Secretary Sangvai will head to Caja Solidaria at 1:30 p.m., a local provider in the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program. The HOP initiative addresses key social determinants of health—such as food, housing, transportation, and interpersonal violence—by offering targeted services to eligible Medicaid recipients.
Described as a “life changer” by many participants, the pilot has helped reduce emergency room visits and healthcare costs, saving approximately $85 per person, per month. Caja Solidaria currently delivers fresh food to more than 1,500 individuals weekly across western North Carolina.
However, the future of the pilot program is uncertain. Current versions of the proposed House and Senate budgets do not include continued funding for Healthy Opportunities beyond June 30, 2025. Without legislative action, the program could end on July 1, putting services for thousands of North Carolinians at risk.
The visits come at a critical time, as state leaders advocate for sustained investment in both mental health services and innovative health care models like HOP that address the root causes of poor health.
