(Charlotte, North Carolina) Alliance Health highlights a groundbreaking pilot program in collaboration with Legal Aid of North Carolina to provide comprehensive legal assistance to Transition to Community Living (TCL) members facing barriers to permanent supportive housing.
TLC supports eligible North Carolina adults living with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities, or traumatic brain injuries who choose to live outside institutional care settings. It combines affordable housing with intensive coordinated services, including case management, peer support, and community integration support, to help program participants live and thrive in their communities.
The Alliance-Legal Aid partnership leverages the strengths of both organizations to offer a holistic approach to housing stability and legal advocacy for this vulnerable population, including:
- Legal representation for eviction proceedings
- Advocacy against housing discrimination
- Removal of barriers to housing
- Compliance with NC fair housing and landlord tenant laws
“We are thrilled to partner with Legal Aid of North Carolina on this important initiative,” said Stephanie Jackson, Alliance Health Assistant General Counsel. “This program represents a significant step towards addressing housing, one of the most important social drivers of health that impact our health plan members’ well-being. By providing legal assistance and advocating for their rights, we are helping ensure that our members have access to safe, stable housing, which is essential for their overall health and recovery.”
“I am so excited that we have the opportunity to partner with Alliance Health,” said Larissa Mañón Mervin, regional managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Charlotte Metro region. “This program is just one of the many ways our office fights to ensure access to justice for our most vulnerable populations. As we know, access to safe and stable housing is one of the most significant social drivers of health. Our Charlotte Housing team works tirelessly to provide legal representation to eligible clients facing eviction proceedings, habitability concerns, housing discrimination, and other barriers to housing. We’re committed to doing the same with Alliance Health’s health plan members and are honored to have the opportunity to positively impact their well-being by ensuring their legal housing needs are met.”
The program focuses on Wake and Mecklenburg counties, with plans to expand to other Alliance-served counties based on its success and impact. TCL members facing housing-related changes are encouraged to reach out to their care managers or to Alliance Member and Recipient Services at 800-510-9132 for more information and to access these services.
For more information about the pilot program or to schedule an interview with representatives from Alliance Health or Legal Aid of North Carolina, please contact:
Doug Fuller
Senior Director, Communications
Alliance Health
dfuller@AllianceHealthPlan.org
Helen Hobson
Chief Communications Officer
Legal Aid of North Carolina
About Alliance Health
Alliance Health is a public managed care organization serving Cumberland, Durham, Harnett, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Orange and Wake counties in North Carolina. Working with a network of more than 4,000 private providers, Alliance has responsibility for almost 470,000 Medicaid-eligible and uninsured individuals among a population of over 3.5M.
The Alliance Medicaid Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disability Tailored Plan manages all the health care needs – physical, behavioral and pharmacy – for people with severe mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and long-term care needs including intellectual/developmental disability and traumatic brain injury.
Alliance supports over 1000 members living in supported housing, representing over 30% of North Carolina’s TCL members currently in housing.
About Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income individuals and families to ensure equal access to justice. With a dedicated team of attorneys, advocates, and support staff, LANC serves thousands of North Carolinians each year, addressing critical legal needs in areas such as housing, family law, domestic violence, veterans’ issues, immigration, disaster relief, and more. From direct legal assistance to impactful advocacy, education, and innovation, LANC is committed to protecting and advancing the rights of North Carolina’s most vulnerable residents. For more information, visit www.legalaidnc.org.