Urgent: HOP Ending July 1—Ask Your Representatives to Act Now

Action Alert

MANNA FoodBank is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about issues that could impact our neighbors now and in the future.

May 2025

Dear Micah,

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) confirmed that all Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) services will stop on June 30, 2025, and the program will be fully discontinued unless the General Assembly restores funding in the final state budget.

HOP is the first program in the nation to use Medicaid dollars for food, housing, transportation, and safety services. In Western North Carolina, it has already

– Served 12,000 neighbors, including thousands of children

– Created or sustained 312 local jobs

– Delivered 330,000+ essential services

– Saved nearly $12 million a year in healthcare costs

Unlike traditional medical spending, HOP dollars stay local, supporting small farms, food banks like MANNA, and dozens of rural nonprofits.

What’s at Stake if HOP Is Not Re-Funded:

$313 million in total health services statewide will be lost ($88 million state match + $225 million federal).
60+ WNC nonprofits and 312 jobs will lose critical funding.
10,931 vulnerable residents will lose help with food, housing, and safety.
The economic ripple effect will take nearly $60 million out of Western NC communities.

This is more than a healthcare crisis. It is an economic one. HOP lowers costs, strengthens local businesses, and builds the infrastructure we need for future disasters.

How You Can Help—Today

Email or call your State House and Senate members and urge them to restore HOP funding before the budget is finalized.
Share this alert with friends, family, and colleagues across North Carolina.

Find your legislators: www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators

For a complete list of WNC State Legislators and a Sample Email/Phone Script, please click here:

DOWNLOAD PDF - CUSTOMIZABLE EMAIL & PHONE SCRIPT

Stay Engaged

Thank you for speaking up for our neighbors and for smart investments that keep dollars—and hope—here at home.

Micah Chrisman,

Director of Marketing and Communications

TEMPLATE EMAIL TO STATE LEGISLATORS

Subject: Please Restore Funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot

Dear Representative [Last Name] / Senator [Last Name],

I’m writing to urge you to restore funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) in the FY 2025–26 state budget. HOP has brought $313 million in health services to North Carolina by leveraging an $88 million state investment to draw down $225 million in federal funds.

In Western North Carolina alone, the program has created more than 300 jobs, supported over 12,000 residents, and delivered more than 330,000 essential services—all while saving the state nearly $12 million annually in healthcare costs.

If funding is cut, emergency room visits will rise, state healthcare costs will increase, and families across our region will lose access to critical support. This is not just a healthcare issue. It is an economic one. HOP has been proven to reduce costs, improve health outcomes, and strengthen local infrastructure in rural communities like ours.

Please ensure HOP continues. Our communities depend on this smart, people-centered investment.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[City/County, NC]

PHONE SCRIPT

“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of [City or County]. I’m calling to urge Representative [or Senator] [Last Name] to restore full funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program in this year’s state budget.

HOP brings hundreds of millions in federal funds to North Carolina, creates jobs, and helps people access nutritious food, housing, and safety services. In Western North Carolina, the program has already saved nearly $12 million in healthcare costs.

Without funding, emergency room visits will rise, healthcare costs will grow, and thousands of families will lose critical support. This is not just a health issue. It’s an economic one, and HOP has proven its value on both fronts.

Please support restoring full HOP funding. Thank you.”

MANNA FoodBank mannafoodbank.org

MANNA FoodBank is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about issues that could impact our neighbors now and in the future.