The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is putting $6.5 million toward programs that steer people away from jail in communities hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
The funding will support diversion programs in counties including Surry and Avery, where storm recovery continues. It will also go toward re-entry services for the recently incarcerated, which address needs like transportation, housing and employment.
According to NCDHHS, more than half of people in North Carolina prisons have mental health conditions, and three-quarters live with substance use disorders.
Officials say offering services like mental health care, medical support, and housing to people at risk of arrest can help reduce incarceration, especially in areas where resources are strained due to Helene.
This funding is part of a larger, nearly $835 million effort to improve behavioral health services across the state.