Housing Initiatives
Vaya Health believes having a safe and stable place to live is an integral part of wellbeing and recovery. Our Housing Team focuses on improving quality of life for eligible individuals who qualify for specialty programs listed below. Housing specialty programs are not an entitlement, and funds are limited.
Vaya’s Housing Team places emphasis on social determinants of health, including economic stability and neighborhood/built environment. It does this by:
- Collaborating with federal, state, and local partners
- Exploring how internal and external programs can improve an eligible individual’s health
- Identifying and creating common goals, projects, and initiatives to advance eligible population services and supports
- Equipping eligible individuals with knowledge and resources to help them improve their overall health
The Housing Team works with community partners to provide knowledge, resources, and training about housing and residential options. The team also operates the Transitions to Community Living (TCL) program, Permanent Supportive Housing rental assistance, non-Medicaid residential services, Housing Supports Grant, Vaya’s Independence Project, Back@Home Balance of State Grant, and the Integrated Supportive Housing programs. The team also operates a Housing Support Line to provide housing resource navigation within Vaya’s region.
The TCL program is the state of North Carolina’s tenant-based rental assistance for eligible TCL participants seeking access to community-based supportive housing.
Permanent Supportive Housing is a combination of housing with indefinite leasing or rental assistance, paired with supportive services, to help individuals who are unhoused, people with a disability, and families with an adult or child with a disability live as independently as possible.
Click here for more Permanent Supportive Housing information
Non-Medicaid residential services are allocated in a manner that is fair, consistent, and intended to help meet the medically necessary residential placement needs of eligible individuals who are indigent, uninsured, or under-insured.
Housing Supports Grant funds are used as available to help establish less restrictive housing for eligible adult members and recipients whose gross income is equal to or less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for a single individual.
The Independence Project is a combination of housing with short-term rental assistance and supportive services to help members and recipients with complex health needs live as independently as possible.
The Back@Home Balance of State Program is designed to reduce unsheltered and rural homelessness and improve services, health outcomes, and housing stability for highly vulnerable unsheltered individuals and families. The program offers supportive services, temporary housing, permanent housing, unit access, financial assistance, move-in financial assistance, and rent or utility assistance. Vaya’s Back@Home counties include: Alexander, Caldwell, McDowell, Franklin, Granville, Rowan, and Vance.
The Integrated Supportive Housing Program is managed by the NC Housing Finance Agency. The program provides interest-free loans for independent apartments where no more than 20% of the units are integrated and set aside for people with disabilities.
Vaya’s Housing Team manages the Housing Support Line, which is available at 1-800-893-6246, ext. 4560, to help connect members and recipients experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with appropriate housing resources. Members and recipients can also email HousingTeam@vayahealth.com to request housing support.
Additional Resources
North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)
NCHFA Training for Community Living Partners
NCHousingSearch.org
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development