Increasing Access to Care for Veterans in North Carolina
Services include health care, housing, and employment.
On November 10, 2023, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced extended hours for NCServes and the launch of AskMeNC.
These initiatives expand access to care for North Carolina’s veterans and their families, strengthen the state’s network of support, and underscore NCDHHS’s commitment to ensuring that 600,000+ NC veterans have timely access to mental health care, housing, employment, and peer support services.
Beginning November 11, Veteran’s Day, the NCServes call line and coordination center, managed by Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) and in partnership with Vaya Health, will offer extended services and reduce barriers to care. These expanded hours, including evenings and weekends, make it easier for veterans and their families to connect to care when they need it most.
Accessing the Services
NCServes is the first statewide coordinated care system in the country for veterans and their families. Veterans, service members, and their families in need of housing, transportation, physical and mental health care, employment services, and other resources are encouraged to call (855) 962-8387 or visit www.ncserves.org to connect with the care coordination teams.
The AskMeNC initiative and website provide a single point of entry for services including health care, housing, benefits navigation, employment, education services, and family support that may be available to veterans and their families. The initiative uses the NCServes coordination system to connect users with trusted, community-based providers across the state.
While it leverages NCServes as a key resource for service members, veterans, and their families, AskMeNC also serves as a digital hub for a wide range of additional support. The website links users to multiple state and community resources that are available and encourages connection to care across diverse needs.
Successful Track Record
Since its launch in 2014, NCServes has delivered more than 150,000 services to nearly 70,000 veteran households across North Carolina. The program integrates with NCCARE360 to ensure every veteran and their family has access to comprehensive, whole-person care. With its expanded hours, the (ABCCM) Veterans Services of the Carolinas program, which manages NC Serves, anticipates serving an additional 2,000 veterans in the first year.
“North Carolina’s veterans have given of themselves selflessly in service to our country. When you’ve spent your career helping, it can be challenging to ask for help,” said Governor Josh Stein.
His thoughts were echoed by NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette. “Increasing access to care is a critical part of honoring our veterans beyond words of gratitude. When state agencies, community partners, and care providers work together, we build a network that meets veterans and their families where they are—ensuring that no one who has served this nation has to navigate life’s challenges alone.”
“This marks another milestone in the evolution of NCServes and how North Carolina continues to raise the standard in serving our veterans and their families,” said Brandon Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of ABCCM. “This expansion reflects what’s possible when more than 5,000 community-based organizations work together with support from our state.”
Homelessness, Lack of Services Stress Vets
These new initiatives come at a pivotal time, as the 2023 VA Community Care Network Review and HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) shows veterans often face hardship because of disconnected systems. Nearly one in three veterans experiencing homelessness reported being unable to access services due to long waiting times or lack of coordination. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2024 National Suicide Prevention Annual Report, nearly two-thirds of veterans who die by suicide were not actively engaged in VA care.
Coordinated networks like NCServes and AskMeNC help bridge these gaps, providing veterans with a trusted pathway to multiple resources through one access point. The National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans (2024) reported that veterans engaged in coordinated systems are 40% more likely to secure stable housing and 50% more likely to sustain employment within 12 months compared to those navigating services independently.
Complementing these efforts, NCDHHS recently launched the Connections app in partnership with CHESS Health, a free, digital resource designed to support veterans’ mental health and recovery through access to trained peers, moderated online communities, daily check-ins, and proven coping tools. NCDHHS is also sponsoring the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s Task Force on Veterans’ Health, which focuses on supporting the provision and navigation of care, developing the health workforce, and addressing the behavioral health care needs of veterans.
Want to Help?
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or need someone to talk to, you are not alone. For those in a mental health crisis, NCDHHS provides somewhere to go, someone to talk with, and someone to respond.
The 988 Chat and Text Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone 24/7 by call, text, or chat. Targeted resources are available for veterans.
