►
Description
In North Carolina and nationally, emergency allotments for COVID-19 in the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program will end in March 2023. This means that in March 2023, households will see a reduction in their FNS benefits because of a federal change that ends emergency allotments for all states.
Joining us today is Trish Wallin, Deputy Director for Buncombe County Economic Services Division and JeWana McEachin, Executive Director of Asheville Buncombe Institute for Parity Achievement better known as ABIPA.
They are here today to make residents aware of the changes, but also to provide information on some resources to assist residents during this transition, like the Healthy Opportunity Pilot.
We invite our community to learn more about additional food and nutrition resources at ncdhhs.gov/foodresources. Buncombe County residents can apply for FNS benefits online with epass.nc.gov or by filling out a paper application. FNS applications can submitted by mail, phone, email, or in person.
A
You're,
listening
to
Tapped
in
Buncombe
County's
half
hour
to
empower
on
wres
100.7
FM
in
Asheville,
listen
up
and
get
tapped
into
local
important
resources.
Information
and
topics
learn
more
about
the
topics
of
today's
show
at
buncombecounty.org.
Okay,
it's
time
to
get
tapped
in
hello,
hello,
hello
to
all
you
beautiful
folks
in
Buncombe
County
and
around,
and
you
know
what
time
it
is
it's
time
to
get
tapped
in
and
I
am
one
of
your
hosts
Zakia
Bell,
Rogers
and.
A
B
Joining
us
today
is
Trish
Wallen
Deputy
deputy
director
for
Boone
County's
economic
service,
Division
and
Joanna
mceachin
executive
record
of
Asheville
Buncombe
Institute
for
parity
achievement,
better
known
as
a
beppa.
They
are
here
today
to
make
residents
aware
of
some
changes
happening
to
the
food
and
nutrition
services,
supplemental
benefits
and
to
provide
information
on
some
resources
to
assist
residents
during
this
transition,
like
the
healthy
opportunity,
pilot
welcome,
Trisha
and
Joanna.
A
C
Trish
telling
me
to
go
first,
my
name
is
Joanna
Greer
mckeachin
and
I'm
the
executive
director
for
abipa.
The
long
name
is
the
Asheville
Buncombe
Institute
of
Purity
achievement
where
Community
Health
is
our
thing,
we're
your
community
health
connection
and
in
this
realm
it's
really
around
health
and
food
right
and
food
access,
and
so
we
know
that
food
is
our
entering
wedge.
C
A
D
Some
federal
changes
that
have
come
forward
will
be
taking
place
in
March
of
23
so
next
month
those
extra
benefits
going
out
will
stop,
and
that
will
be
a
very
significant
change
to
many
many
people.
For
example,
we
have
a
family
of
four
during
this
time,
receiving
a
full
allotment
would
have
received
939
dollars
per
month
for
their
allotment,
effective
in
March.
That
will
change
to.
We
will
be
considering
their
income
and
their
expenses.
D
That
amount
will
change
based
on
that,
and
it
will
there's
not
a
way
to
tell
you
exactly
what
that
will
change
too,
because
it
will
be
dependent
on
the
Family's
and
the
individuals,
all
those
things
for
them.
So
everyone's
will
be
slightly
different,
but
it
will
be
a
huge
change
to
the
many
families,
not
many
families,
all
families
that
we
serve
yeah.
B
D
All
of
our
recipients
would
have
will
have
been
impacted,
and
currently
we
have
about
38
000
recipients
in
the
county,
and
so
every
single
one
will
be
impacted
because
they
all
were
the
recipient
of
the
good
side
of
it.
This
will
be
a
challenge
inside
and
it's
not
the
information
that
I
would
love
to
share.
D
So
to
make
that
point,
but
it
really
is,
it
will
be
substantial
to
many
many
people,
as
this
is
something
that
they
have
gotten
used
to.
Food
assistance
was
never
intended
to
be
a
complete
nutritional
package
for
everyone.
It
was
intended
as
a
supplemental
program
from
the
its
origin,
and
many
have
recognized
that
we've
never
given
people
enough
benefits
to
feed
themselves
all
the
time,
but
as
we've
worked
through
that
with
this
is
particularly
in
the
pandemic.
Recognizing
that
there's
extra
need.
D
D
A
D
They
will
be
back
to
that
regular
amount.
A
household
of
two
would
have
been
516
during
this
time,
and
they'll
go
back
to
probably
approximately
forty
dollars
if
they
were
at
that
sixteen
dollar
for
a
two,
so
yeah
very
challenging
for
them.
We
want
to
make
sure
we're
recognizing
our
partnering
agencies
and
resources
for
folks.
B
D
The
entire
time
of
the
pandemic,
we
have
been
continuing
to
do
recertifications
and
asking
clients
to
make
sure
that
they
report
to
us
changes
in
their
situation
and
their
income
in
their
household
size,
different
things
like
that.
That's
a
standard
for
us.
We
want
to
make
sure
that,
especially
now,
though,
that
if
they've
had
a
change
that
they
have
told
us
about
it,
so
we
can
make
sure
and
maximize
their
benefits
so
reaching
out
and
letting
their
caseworker
know
of
any
changes
is
is
extremely
important
at
this
time.
A
C
I
cannot
say
that
we
are
hiring
more
staff
when
it
comes
to
the
communication
markets,
but
again,
staff
are
just
there.
The
communication,
the
community
health
workers
and
The
Navigators
are
there
to
be
able
to
help
people
individualistically
about
what
is
their
plan
if
they
are
being
impacted
more
by
the
decrease
in
their
funding
when
it
comes
to
their
food
stamp,
Assistance
or
EBT.
C
But
then
also
what
are
some
other
options
that
are
out
there
and
so
I
think
that
may
be
me
tapping
in
on
on
what
we
have
with
impact
health,
and
so
ability
is
actually
I'm
a
provider
for
the
impact
health.
And
so
what
is
that?
And
what
is
the
healthy
opportunities
palette
in
Western
North
Carolina?
So
let
me
give
you
a
couple
of
definitions,
so
the
healthy
opportunities
palette
is
the
nation's
first
comprehensive
program
to
test
evidence-based
non-medical
interventions
that
are
designed
to
improve
the
health
of
Medicaid
beneficiaries,
while
reducing
their
health
care
costs.
C
So
this
Innovation
program
is
being
piloted
in
three
regions
across
the
state,
including
right
here
in
Western,
North,
Carolina,
so
high
provides
support
for
social
needs
related
to
food,
housing,
transportation
and
interpersonal
safety.
Detailed
information
on
the
29
pilot
Services
can
be
found
on
ncdhs
website,
but
impact
Health
locally
is
a
wnc
based
non-profit
created
by
Dogwood
helps
trust
to
lead
the
network
of
Human
Service
organizations
providing
hot
Services,
which
is
healthy
opportunities
here
in
Western,
North
Carolina,
and
so
as
the
network
lead
impact.
C
Health
Services
serves
as
a
bridge
between
the
state,
prepaid
health
plans
and
more
than
50
Human
Services
organizations,
but
participating
in
the
palette.
So
you
can
learn
more
about
that
also
on
impact
health.
So
what
does
all
of
that
mean
yeah?
So
if
you
have
managed
Medicaid
and
you
are
food
insecure,
you
can
reach
out
to
your
case
manager
and
they
can
refer
you
to
the
hot
palette,
and
so,
if
you
have
managed
Medicaid
with
four
specific
programs
which
are
healthy,
blue,
well
care,
mayor,
Health,
Caritas
and
United
Healthcare.
C
If
you
have
managed
Medicaid
under
those
agencies,
you
can
get
a
referral
for
healthy
food.
For
a
healthy
food
box,
it
could
be
a
small
box
or
a
large
box
depending
on
the
size
of
your
family,
and
what
that
means
is
that
you
can
either
pick
up
or
get
delivered
food
to
you.
That
has
two
meals
for
the
week.
C
So
again,
just
like
we're
talking
about
it's
supplemental,
but
right
now
it
seems
like
we're
really
going
to
need
some
of
those
supplemental
things
that
really
make
sure
that
people
are
getting
whole
and
fresh
food
yeah.
And
so
that's
where
Aviva
comes
in
as
a
partner,
because
our
community
health
workers
are
supplying
some
of
those
needs
and
we're
in
NC
care,
360
getting
referrals
and
we
actually
are
delivering
meals
to
people
that
are
here
in
Buncombe
Henderson
and
as
far
as
Rutherford
counties,.
C
Actually
have
the
ability
to
go
further.
We
need
one
more
trip,
though,
but
again
we've
gotten
really
good
feedback
because
of
the
intentionality
of
what
meals
people
are
getting.
They
are
client
choice,
so
people
can
say
well,
I
need
a
dinner
meal
or
I
need
a
breakfast
meal,
I'm
a
vegetarian,
and
so
we
shop
to
provide
those
boxes
in
that
way,
they're
very
curated
to
what
the
need
is
for
the
family.
B
C
D
C
Us
and
then
also
at
least
one
qualifying
physical
or
behavioral
health
condition,
and
at
least
one
social
need
related
to
food,
housing,
Transportation,
toxic
stress
and
or
interpersonal
safety.
So
that
sounds
like
it
covers
a
catchment
of
many
people
and
what's
important
about
this
is
sometimes
a
child
May
unqualify,
and
so
it
benefits
the
whole
family.
And
if
more
than
one
person
in
the
the
family
qualifies,
you
can
get
more
services,
and
so
it's
really
good
to
know
that
one
you
do
have
to
have
managed
Medicaid.
So
it's
not
Medicare.
C
That's
something
really
important
for
people
to
understand
when
it
comes
to
Medicare
Medicaid,
so
it
is
managed
Medicaid,
and
so
again,
it's
really
great.
And
sometimes
when
we
talk
about
social
determinants
of
Health,
it's
really
important
because
we
know
food
is
one
thing.
Housing
is
something
and
transportation
and
I'll
talk
to
stress,
but
this
is
a
way
that
we
can
really
combat
all
of
them
in
a
holistic
manner,
through
NC
care,
360.
A
A
So
that,
and
so
all
these
listeners
out
there,
if
you
have
any
of
those
managed
Medicaid
services
check,
it,
has
it's
nothing,
nothing
harmful
into
just
checking
to
make
sure,
because
sometimes
you
can
find
other
services
as
well
and
so
at
Trish
at
your
at
our
agency
of
economical
services,
you
all
are
also
able
to
link
clients
with
other
information.
If
they
come
in
and
asking
questions,
we.
D
Are-
and
we
are
always
happy
to
do
that-
and
our
programs,
our
standard
programs,
which
are
Medicaid
subsidized
child
care,
food
assistance
work.
First,
the
energy
programs
can
all
be
applied
for
through
E-Pass
and
the
email
or
the
address,
for
that
is
e-pass.nc.gov.
So
again,
that's
epass.nc.gov
and
those
programs
can
be
applied
for
there.
They
also,
we
very
often
do
those
applications
in
the
building.
We
do
them
by
phone.
D
We
try
to
be
an
open
door
policy
for
how
people
can
apply
for
any
programs
with
us,
but
additionally,
to
our
those
are
what
we
would
refer
to
as
our
standard
programs
which
are
mandated
by
the
state
and
that
sort
of
thing
we
have
other
services
that
we
always
want
to
share
and
currently
we're
doing
the
housing
assistance
program.
So
emergency
housing
assistance,
Aid,
and
we
have
lots
of
folks
that
we
are
working
with
and
that
trying
to
keep
people
in
their
homes,
pay,
rent
and
utilities.
D
A
D
Know
it's
tax
time,
so
that
is
through
the
local
libraries
that's
available,
as
well
as
I
need
to
give
a
plug
for
WIC,
which
is
our
women's
and
infants
Children's
Program.
We
are
always
happy
to
try
to
connect
people
with
that
program
and
it
is
a
great
resource
and
has
lost
much
of
the
stigma
that
it
used
to
have
connected
to
the
week
process
of
checking
out
the
grocery
store.
Those
kinds
of
things
are
very
different
now,
so
I
wouldn't
really
want
to
encourage
people
to
look
into
that
to
supplement
their
food
programs
as
well.
A
And
I
think,
as
time
has
gone
on,
things
have
gotten
easier.
I
know
during
this
pandemic
time
we
have
learned
so
much
about.
There
are
multiple
ways
to
get
one
set
of
information
you
where
now
we're
able
to
telecommute
telecommunicate
Telehealth
visits,
we
were
able
to
do
more
things
online
and
things
of
that
nature.
What
are
some
things
that
you
feel
have
come
out
of
this
situation
that
has
improved
your
agency.
D
Things
should
not
be
the
way
we
continue
to
do
things
but
to
improve
and
make
sure
we're
reaching
out
as
much
as
we
can.
We
partner
a
lot
with
Community
agencies
and
want
to
make
sure
we
always
are
sharing
information.
We
answer
lots
and
lots
of
questions
about
other
resources
with
our
call
center
and
our
caseworkers,
and
we
also
have
those
Partners
very
often
listed
on
the
buncombecounty.org
website.
Just
there's
also
so
just
to
give
a
plug
here
again
for
E-Pass
there's
a
link
to
E-Pass
on
the
Buncombe
county.org
website.
B
And
so
Trisha
I
just
want
to
elevate
again
hearing
off
many
other
resources
that
you
mentioned,
that
the
county
provides
out
to
Residents.
I
just
want
to
highlight
ways
in
which
residents
can
access
those
again,
if
you
don't
mind
just
running
through
I
know,
you
talked
about
the
E-Pass,
but
if
you
could
just
run
through
different
ways
that
Community
can
access
these
resources.
D
I'm
happy
too
so
E-Pass,
of
course,
and
they
can
come
to
our
building.
If
they
would
like
they
can
call
us
and
get.
We
can
do
phone
applications
for
most
all
of
our
programs.
They
can
email
us
an
application,
they
can
print
it
off
and
bring
it
to
us.
They
can
mail
it
to
us
by
snail
mail.
They
can
drop
it
off
in
our
Dropbox,
completely
bring
it
to
us
and
of
course,
we
are
always
happy
to
see.
People
come
in
the
door
to
sit
down
and
actually
talk
with
their
workers.
D
So
basically
any
way
they
want
it.
We
are
happy
to
try
to
connect
with
them
and
get
it.
We
don't
always
have
someone
immediately
available
to
take
a
phone
application,
but
routinely
that
call
gets
back
to
them
within
a
couple
hours
as
we
we
have
staff
who
that's
what
they
do
is
call
back
and
take
that
information
and
get
that
application
starting
the
very
fastest
way
to
get
an
application
started,
though,
is
at
E-Pass
because
the
moment
they
close
that
application,
it
becomes
an
application
for
us.
D
Sometimes
you
know
we
pull
something
up
and
start
looking
at
it
and
and
are
going
to
get
back
to
it
and
we
don't
or
we
plan
to
come
down
to
Cox
and
do
an
application
and
it
just
doesn't
align
or
we
have
transportation
issues
whatever.
But
the
E-Pass
process
is
the
fastest
way
to
get
an
application
to
us.
I.
B
Also
have
another
question
in
terms
of
I
know:
we
talked
as
being
a
reduction
in
those
services,
but
is
there
anywhere
where
there's
going
to
be
elimination
for
services
for
people
who
may
have
qualified
during
this
allotment
during
this
covert
period?
That
may
not
have
been
eligible
pre-pandemic?
We.
D
A
D
Is
a
very
limited
number
of
months
that
individuals
that
fit
into
that
category
can
receive.
We
are
thinking
that
that
may
come
back.
We
are
not
looking
forward
to
that
and
it's
still
up
in
the
air
right
now
as
to
when
that
will
happen,
but
with
the
ending
of
the
Public
Health
Emergency
on
a
federal
level,
we
do
anticipate.
There
will
be
a
few
of
those
things
that
personally
I
just
soon
not
come
back,
but
at
the
same
time
they're
still,
we
don't
have
any
Hard
dates
on
those
things.
D
Yet
some
of
our
rules
that
have
been
giving
us
a
little
more
flexibility
may
change,
but
right
now
they
have
not,
and
so
we're
embracing
it
and
encourage
everyone.
You
know
it
we're
talking
about
people
and
this
happening
decrease
to
folks
who
are
already
receiving,
but
I
want
to
make
sure
that
anyone
who
needs
assistance
that
need
a
way
to
help
supplement
assistance
to
feeding
their
family
or
themselves
that
they
reach
out
to
us,
because
we
are
eager
to
serve
as
many
as
we
possibly
can.
A
Okay,
so
this
is
going
to
It's
A
Hard,
stop
in
March,
there's,
not
a
a
step
down
or
anything
in
that
way,
so
just
to
educate
folks.
How
did
this
become
the
cutoff
like?
How
does
that
it
was
it
a
state
change,
and
they
just
said:
okay,
it's
time
to
do
away
with
covet
finding,
even
though
we're
still
having
some
issues
with
covet.
D
No,
this
actually
was
a
federal
change
and
it
will
impact
all
states
all
food
assistance
recipients
in
every
state.
We
are
not
aware
of
anyone
that
there's
an
exception
to,
and
it
was
Federal
definitely
not
a
local
or
state
rule
that
went
into
place.
It
was
passed
by
the
legislatures
and
and
the
stop
is
actually
it
ends.
The
last
supplemented
month
will
be
this
month,
February
so
March.
D
They
will
not
see
it
on
their
cards
in
March,
another
little
plug
for
EBT
Edge,
a
way
to
keep
up
with
the
amount
of
benefits
on
their
cards
and
what
we've
heard
from
some
folks
is
that
they
during
this
time,
maybe
they
didn't
need
all
of
those
benefits
and
they've
kind
of
let
them
sit
and
store
up
a
little
bit.
Nothing
negative
will
happen
to
those
benefits
they
will
continue
to
be
there
and
our
recipients
can
look
at
EBT
Edge
to
see
to
check
their
amounts
on
there.
D
A
A
Yes,
I
was
looking
at
it
as
you
were
going
over
it
so,
which
is
it's
very
nice
everything
now
you
can
at
the
touch
of
your
fingertips.
You
can
look
at
something
instead
of
having
to
call
and
hit
an
automated
system,
and
is
it
push
one
or
is
it
push
three
like
which
one
if
I'm
supposed
to
push,
but
if
you
can
look
at
it
in
real
time?
That's
really
great.
So
I
love
the
changes
that
have
been
coming
and
the
growth
and
the
the
acceptance
of
Technology
with
the
systems
these
days.
B
A
B
C
B
People
typically
receive
their
services,
so,
like
I,
think
if
things
may
be
stressful,
so
like
everything's
going
good
and
if
a
certain
day
you
know
that
this
may
be
impacting
the
community.
You
may
see
a
reaction
if
kids
are
having
an
experience
at
home
if
they
show
up
in
our
school
or
maybe
to
show
up
in
our
church,
Community
or
people.
You
just
interact
with
what
are
the
typical
days.
People
mostly
receive
their
services,
so.
A
D
Their
normal
benefit
would
go
in
and
whatever
that's
been
hitting
for
them
that
they
could
see
would
be
should
be
the
same.
It's
just
that
20
second
benefit
drop
that
they
that
won't
go
away.
It
is
based
on
the
last
digit
of
your
Social
Security
number.
So
it's
there's
not
a
predictor,
for
us
of
everyone's,
of
course,
is
different,
but
so
they,
but
they
do
deposit
during
that
time
frame.
Okay,.
C
Gets
the
general
points
about
healthy
opportunities?
So
there
are
three
major
points:
I
want
to
make
sure
that
I
go
back
over,
so
the
healthy
opportunities
palette
is
the
first
program
in
the
nation
to
use
Medicaid
funding
to
address
social
determinants
of
Health
that
can
account
for
up
to
80
percent
of
Health
outcomes.
Number
two.
C
Health
serves
as
a
bridge
between
the
state,
prepaid,
health
plans
and
more
than
50
community
organizations
that
are
providing
Services
across
18,
Western,
North,
Carolina,
counties
and
ibippa
is
one
of
those
50
community-based
organizations
and
then
also
how
can
people
really
see
if
they
qualify?
They
can
visit,
impacts,
Health
Website
at
impacthealth.org,
backslash,
hop
or
call
828-278-9900.
C
February
is
the
time
that
we
should
really
be
getting
on
the
phone
and
on
the
internet
to
really
see
if
people
apply
for
well
not
apply
but
are
eligible
for
these
Services.
Because
again,
food
is
your
entering
wedge.
But
it's
really
going
around
the
social
determinants
of
health,
because
we've
had
clients
that
we've
been
able
to
help
for
the
food
distribution,
but
then
also
helping
with
moving
assistance.
So
they
can
get
first
monthly
rent.
They
can
get
healthy
household
goods,
so
they
have
depending
on
the
number
of
rooms
they
have.
C
We
can
purchase
items
like
beds
like
sheets
and
things
pots
and
pans
within
whatever
budget
they're
allocated,
so
just
know
that
there
is
a
lot
of
wrap
around
care
that
is
there
and
here
in
Western,
North
Carolina
I
say
that
we
are
very
resource
Rich.
It's
just
a
matter
of
making
sure
that
people
know
how
to
access
and
know
that
they
have
access
to
make
sure
that
we're
really
taken
care
of
and.
C
Yes,
of
course,
I
can
so
again
directly
for
impact
Health.
You
can
call
828-278-9900,
you
can
also
call
a
bipa
at
828-251-8364
and
at
those
engagement
markets
we
have
community
health
workers
that
are
already
there,
and
so
they
also
will
be
equipped
with
the
cards.
The
red
cards
that
have
all
of
the
information.
Just
in
case
you
say,
Okay
Juwanna,
we
heard
it,
but
we
need
it
to
be
reiterated.
So,
knowing
that
there
is
opportunity
to
really
make
sure
in
real
time
that
people
are
supported,
mm-hmm.
A
D
I,
just
really
want
the
community
to
know
that
we
realize
this
will
be
a
hardship
and
that
we
are
here
to
support
in
any
way
that
we
can
and
with
their
partnering
agencies
in
the
community
to
make
sure
that
folks
have
access
to
what
they
need.
We
all
need
to
feel
like
we
are
appreciated
and
and
honored
in
our
community
and
just
working
together
to
recognize
that.
So
so
call
us
contact
us
reach
out
E-Pass
again
the
fastest
way.
C
Then
I
just
want
everybody
to
remember
that
impact
health
is
really
trying
to
make
a
great
impact
with
hop
or
healthy
opportunities,
so,
whether
you
get
plugged
in
or
tapped
in
and
it's
a
bifa,
the
YMCA
of
Western
North
Carolina
Bountiful
cities,
Mana
or
any
of
the
other
hot
providers.
You
know
that
we're
here
for
you
and
we
look
forward
to
serving
you.
B
And
I
would
just
like
to
uplift
again
the
Buncombe
County
Community
engagement
markets
that
happen
throughout
the
county,
we're
at
13
different
locations
and
you
can
find
out
where
those
locations
are
on
the
Buncombe
County
website
on
the
community
engagement
and
it's
Community
Markets,
and
you
can
find
our
date
and
times
that
we're
there.
We
normally
have
one
or
two
each
week.
A
Well,
all
right
I
am
going
to
wrap
us
up.
I
want
to
thank
our
guests
so
much
for
coming
and
sharing
this
information
with
us
and
caring
for
our
community
many
times
we
see
things
as
tragedies.
We
survived
a
long
time
with
a
pandemic.
We
wore
Mass
we
and
they
were
hot.
In
the
middle
of
the
summer,
we
fell
in
love
with
them.
We
fell
out
of
love
with
him,
and
we've
learned
a
lot
about
ourselves.
A
This
was
a
great
time
for
growth
emotionally
mentally
in
any
other
way,
and
if
you
were
like
me
physically,
because
I
gained
weight,
however
we're
at
another
stepping
stone
in
our
community
and
these
benefits
are
changing
and
instead
of
suffering
or
being
afraid,
this
is
a
time
that
I
want
to
encourage
you.
There
are
no
stupid
questions.
There
is
no
ass,
too
big
or
too
small.
If
you
need
help
reach
out
at
the
end
of
the
day,
we
are
one
bunkum.
We
are
here
to
help
each
other.