Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee Meeting

Meeting Overview The Buncombe County Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee held a meeting on March 26, 2025, at the Land of Sky Regional Council in Asheville. The primary focus of the session was the allocation of funds for home and community care programs, a process the committee described as particularly challenging due to financial constraints and unexpected expenses related to hurricane cleanup. The committee reviewed funding expenditure reports, discussed advocacy efforts for supplemental aging funds, and began the process of determining allocations for the upcoming fiscal period.

Key Decisions The committee approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting, both of which passed without objection. Regarding specific program funding, the committee voted unanimously to acknowledge MountainCare’s request for an increase in their transportation reimbursement rate from $42 to $45 per trip. However, the committee postponed the final decision on this rate increase until their next meeting to allow time for further consideration and review of the next month’s Units of Service report. Additionally, the committee moved to base their overall funding allocations on a total of $1.7 million.

Discussion Highlights A significant portion of the discussion centered on the Council on Aging’s nutrition program, which faced disruptions due to storm damage at dining sites in Black Mountain, Grove Street, and Shiloh, as well as lead pipe testing requirements. The Council on Aging is working to shift funding from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) sources to the Home and Community Care Block Grant to stabilize services. The committee also reviewed the In-Home Aide program, noting that Level II services were impacted by the storm but are now back on track, while Level I was overspent, allowing funds to be shifted to Level II.

Concerns were raised regarding United Community Development, which has not spent any of its allocated funding. Zack Schmitt reported communicating with the organization’s President/CEO regarding a completed project that has not yet been entered into the accounting system and the substantial amount of funding that may need to be relinquished. The committee also discussed the eligibility of other organizations, determining that Mobility Matters is not eligible for Home and Community Care Block Grant funding under "Housing and Home Improvement" because their proposed consulting services do not match the category requirements, though they could apply for Buncombe County Supplemental Aging Funds (BCSAF) if available. The committee requested additional information from the Center for Conscious Living and Dying regarding their salary structure and from Community Health Workers regarding their other funding sources.

Advocacy and Supplemental Funds The committee reviewed reports on advocacy efforts to preserve BCSAF funding, which is currently at risk in the upcoming county budget. Suzanne Booth, Eileen McMinn, and Melissa Harmon were recognized for their outreach to County Commissioners. While Suzanne Booth reported that her attempts to contact commissioners via email and phone received no response, Susan Schiemer reported making public comments at three commissioner meetings, supported by Eileen McMinn and Melissa Harmon. The committee noted that the $500,000 BCSAF funding remains in the Aging and Adult Services budget and has not been removed, with the next budget work session scheduled for April 22.

Follow-ups Billie Breeden agreed to contact applicants—including the Center for Conscious Living and Dying, the Council on Aging, and Community Health Workers—to answer the committee’s questions and to follow up with MountainCare. Committee members are asked to prepare their individual funding recommendations and submit their allocation spreadsheets to Susan Schiemer by April 18. The committee will continue to monitor United Community Development to ensure proper accounting procedures are followed.

Next Steps The next meeting of the Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and will be held in person at the Land of Sky Regional Council.