As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene approaches, a $10 million community investment is helping in the recovery process while also addressing a need for housing and health support that existed in western North Carolina long before the storm.
AMY Wellness Foundation, backed by an investment from AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina, and in partnership with Chief Cares, will use the funds to support families in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties in moving from crisis to stability and create long-term pathways to health, opportunity and home ownership.
“Home ownership is one of the most powerful tools we have to build stability and generational wealth,” said Luke Howe, Executive Director of AMY Wellness Foundation. “Through this partnership, families in our region will have greater access to lasting opportunity, economic mobility, and a place to truly call home.”
The first phase of this initiative builds on the new neighborhoods Chief Cares is constructing in Avery County and will soon begin in Mitchell and Yancey counties. Chief Cares is a nonprofit founded by country music star and western North Carolina native, Eric Church, and his wife, Katherine.
Each neighborhood will house both Hurricane Helene survivors and core community members—county and city employees along with hospital and school district staff—who help make the region thrive.
“We’re not just rebuilding homes—we’re investing in the people that will carry this community forward for generations,” said Church. “This isn’t about short-term solutions. It’s about long-term hope.”
AMYWF and AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina also are working together on a major revitalization in downtown Burnsville in Yancey County. The project to convert a historic building into affordable apartments, along with space for local businesses, will help boost the town’s economy while addressing the urgent need for more housing.
“We are proud to support our local partners in the important work of rebuilding and growing in this region that was so devastated by Hurricane Helene,” said AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina Market President Heidi Chan. “Together with AMY Wellness Foundation, we are advancing a shared mission to build healthier communities in Western North Carolina with stable housing and access to health care that will support folks in living and working here for years to come.”
The multi-year initiative will provide more than 150 housing units for individuals and families in the three-county region.
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AMY (Avery, Mitchell, Yancey) Wellness Foundation was established as a result of the Mission Health System sale to HCA Healthcare to ensure health and wellness was still a main priority in our area of western North Carolina. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the residents of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties by partnering with local nonprofits, fostering connections among services, and supporting programs that make our communities a healthier place.
For more information please visit https://amywellnessfoundation.org/
About AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina is a prepaid health plan that offers a standard benefit plan to North Carolina Medicaid enrollees. AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina helps North Carolinians get care, stay well, and build healthy communities by addressing the acute and broader social factors that drive health outcomes. In addition to managing medical and behavioral health for its members, AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina operates Wellness & Opportunity Centers in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Fayetteville and Greenville, offering wellness and educational opportunities for the community. Its Mobile Wellness & Opportunity Center serves Raleigh/Durham and the greater Triangle area, and is also available for events and programming across the state. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritasnc.com.
Any reference in this press release to any person, organization, activity, or services related to North Carolina Medicaid does not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
About Chief Cares
Chief Cares was established by Eric and Katherine Church to impact lives and make a difference not only in the United States but throughout the world. In response to Hurricane Helene, the organization is focused on mid- to long-term disaster recovery—starting with a bold housing initiative in Western North Carolina designed to become a national model for rebuilding communities.
For more information, visit ChiefCares.org
