Angie Garner of VIA Health briefed JRAC on an array of housing and reentry programs that affect justice-involved and clinically vulnerable residents.

Garner described Olmstead 'Money Follows the Person' (MFP) transition-coordination programs that help people move from skilled nursing facilities or psychiatric/residential institutions back into the community; since 2019 VIA has served over 600 individuals and reported 85 transitions systemwide, with three of 30 county participants transitioned in Buncombe County. The MFP-IDD program supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 32 western counties.

Garner also outlined "Back at Home," a Buncombe County rapid rehousing grant with 50 slots (30 households housed so far), VIA Independence (a 10-person project currently closed to new funding), and an Integrated Supportive Housing Program (ISHP) that incentivizes developers to set aside up to 20% of units for people with disabilities. VIA's $500 one-time housing support grants helped 16 Buncombe County residents last year.

On justice reentry, Garner said VIA maintains justice reentry care managers who work with Department of Corrections social workers to link people leaving incarceration to appointments and services; four peer managers support that work.

Garner also gave co-responder program outcomes for 2026: "We had 189 referrals to co-responders. 38 percent of those were linked to behavioral-health appointments... 78 percent diversion from the ED" and only one arrest was reported. She cautioned that VIA recently experienced a $9,000,000 reduction in state single-stream funds that limits flexibility to expand state-funded services and to shore up provider reimbursement.

Members asked for clarifications on eligibility and data; VIA staff said they would follow up with corrected slide data and explore state reporting sources for county-specific bed and utilization numbers.

Next steps: VIA will provide corrected slides and staff will pursue county and state data sources to support JRAC's measures work.