Our Mission

 The WNC Lighthouse Community, Access, Resources, and Education for the Underserved (CARE4U) Health Initiative improves access to healthcare, expanding access to behavioral health services including substance use prevention, and strengthening the well‑being of infants, children, and adolescents, with a focused emphasis on elementary‑age children’s mental health and emotional well-being. 

 Safe housing is the foundation beneath every other community outcome. Within twelve months, we completed 363 housing and environmental health assessments, in partnership with local construction vendors, impacting 1,461 underserved children, adults and families. Our home repairs help families remain securely housed, prevent avoidable displacement, and reduce the likelihood of homelessness.  

 After Hurricane Helene, we supported more than 1,000 families with emergency housing, homeless camp assistance, and essential household supplies. These efforts stabilized families during crisis and strengthened community resilience for the long term. 

 Our work begins with health because nothing else is possible without it. Over the past year, we delivered 3,566 food security interventions. These efforts reached roughly 14,440 people and ensured families had the nutrition needed to maintain health, manage chronic health conditions, and avoid preventable crises and healthcare utilization. Reliable access to healthy food also reduces mental stress, supports recovery, and helps children arrive at school ready to learn. The housing and environmental health interventions further strengthened health outcomes by reducing mold, asthma triggers, and fall risks and improving accessibility for elders and people with disabilities. When homes are healthier, long term wellbeing becomes more achievable. 

 Healthy food and stable housing are prerequisites for educational success. The steady groceries families receive through Lighthouse mean fewer missed school days, better concentration, and improved readiness to learn. Our housing interventions reduce environmental barriers—such as mold and poor indoor air quality—that lead to asthma exacerbations, absences, and avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations. For many children, these supports are the difference between falling behind and staying on track academically. 

 Food security and safe housing directly influence a family’s ability to work. Parents report more consistent attendance, fewer missed shifts, and improved budgeting when they receive reliable food support. By partnering with 8 local construction vendors and sourcing all food boxes from 21 local farms, we also strengthen the local construction and agricultural economies creating a loop of rural economic benefit. Our emergency responses, housing repairs, and year round support reduce economic shocks that can destabilize applicants.

 Our neighbor to neighbor model builds trust, relationships, strengthens local capacity, and ensures supports reach the hardest to serve communities across Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary. We address urgent needs while building long term partnerships and creating stability.