---
title: "North Carolina Aging, IDD & HMIS: What to Watch in May 2026"
---

From the $33B caregiver economy to rising homelessness data, here’s what to know this month. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

| View in browser NewsWorthy INDUSTRY INSIGHTS WORTH CHECKING OUT North Carolina’s 1.4 million family caregivers provide an estimated $33 billion in unpaid care every year, according to a new AARP report. As the state prepares for a 50% jump in residents over 65 by 2050, the question for counties and providers is no longer whether to invest in coordinated supports, but how fast.  MAY 2026 Welcome back to the May edition of our North Carolina newsletter. This month’s issue looks across aging, IDD, and homelessness, and where they intersect. We highlight new state data, county-level innovation, and a major statewide convening where the field will gather later this month.    What’s in this month’s issue?  The intersection of aging and homelessness: Senior homelessness is rising fast in NC, and what the latest Mecklenburg data shows  IDD in focus: Inclusion Connects Q6 data and federal proposals affecting NC’s IDD ecosystem  Real Results: Building HMIS+ that meets county and Continuum of Care needs  Aging in North Carolina: The $33B caregiver economy and what it means for policy  Homelessness update: NC Balance of State adopts new charter; Buncombe’s record 2026 PIT count  Industry News for You  Community question: We want to hear from you  Where Aging and Homelessness Meet    Senior Homelessness Is Climbing Fast in NC  WHQR reported in February that older adult homelessness in the Cape Fear region jumped nearly 48% since 2022. Nationally, adults 55 and over now make up one in five people experiencing homelessness. Aging services and homelessness response can no longer operate in parallel. Mecklenburg One Number January 2026  \|  WHQR senior homelessness coverage. IDD in Focus   Inclusion Connects: Almost Half of Waitlist Now Receiving Some Service  NCDHHS’s April 15 Inclusion Connects report shows 9,662 people on the Innovations Waiver waitlist, and nearly half  accessed a 1915(i) IDD service in Q4 2025. Completed and approved assessments dropped, though, signaling that intake throughput remains a pressure point for care management entities.  Federal Watch and Olmstead Housing    NCCDD’s April 20 update flags a nearly $20 million LEND reduction and a renewed proposal to eliminate the Administration for Community Living. On May 27 at the Bringing It Home Conference, NCDHHS Olmstead Director Josh Walker will brief the NC Strategic Housing Plan, treating IDD housing and homelessness as one portfolio. Read NCCDD’s full April policy update Real Results from Organizations Near You What Counties Need from HMIS+  Counties leading a Continuum of Care need HUD-compliant HMIS reporting plus a system that talks to aging, IDD, behavioral health, and county dashboards. A purpose-built HMIS+ approach centralizes intake, service plans, referrals, and outcome tracking, and lets counties share data with partners without rebuilding the wheel.  “We wanted a community-based system for vulnerable populations and to support coordinated assessments and intakes. CaseWorthy has exceeded our expectations with its ease of use, level of customer support, and ability to report out data needed by our community partners.”  — CaseWorthy HMIS+ customer testimonial    See the CaseWorthy HMIS+ Case Management overview Aging in North Carolina    The $33 Billion Caregiver Economy  AARP’s March 26 report values NC’s 1.4 million unpaid family caregivers at $33 billion and 1.79 billion hours per year. The Triangle Business Journal’s April 17 follow-up found one in five rates their own health as fair or poor. The Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging is pushing tax credits and Project C.A.R.E. statewide. AARP report announcement  \|  Triangle Business Journal coverage  \|  GAC 2026 Report to the Governor.  Homelessness Housing Update   NC Balance of State Adopts New Governance Charter In January 2026, the NC Balance of State CoC, which covers 79 of NC’s 100 counties, adopted a fully reconstructed Governance Charter developed in collaboration with HUD Technical Assistance. For agencies and counties operating under BoS, this is the first major rewrite since 2013 and reshapes committee structure, decision rights, and HMIS expectations.    NC BoS CoC overview and updated charter.  Buncombe County Point in Time Count Hits a Record High  The Asheville-Buncombe CoC’s 2026 PIT count recorded 824 people experiencing homelessness, up 9.1% over 2025, with 334 unsheltered. Of those surveyed, 33% had housing in Buncombe County when Hurricane Helene hit. Disaster displacement plus affordability pressure means new caseload demands without new staff through the rest of 2026.    Asheville-Buncombe CoC 2026 PIT Count Results    UPCOMING EVENT: CaseWorthy Is a Bronze Sponsor of Bringing It Home 2026 CaseWorthy is proud to sponsor Bringing It Home: Ending Homelessness in NC, May 27 and 28 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The conference is hosted by the NC Housing Coalition, NC Coalition to End Homelessness, and the NC DHHS ESG Office. If you are attending, stop by to talk with us about HMIS, coordinated entry, and how counties are bridging aging, IDD, and homelessness data. Conference details and registration. More From Around the Web   NC Medicaid Tightens Oversight of ABA Therapy Amid Fraud Concerns (April 27, 2026). NCDHHS proposed Clinical Coverage Policy 8F revisions tighten provider oversight, restrict telehealth, and require national certification for behavior technicians. First phase targets August 1, 2026.  Innovations Waiver: New Service Codes and National Accreditation Required by April 2027. NC Medicaid is replacing the single Community/Behavioral Health taxonomy with 39 specific Innovations Waiver service options. Providers must add accreditation and select a new service in NCTracks before April 20, 2027, to keep billing.  See How HMIS+ Case Management Works for Counties → QUICK POLL Vote in the one-question poll: cast your vote here. Reply to this email if none of the options fit and tell us what does. We will share results next month.  Questions or feedback? Reach out to your sales@caseworthy.com or your CaseWorthy representative. We’re here to support the work you do every day for North Carolina’s communities.  If you found this newsletter helpful, why not share it with a friend or colleague? Click that forward button and spread the word! Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up for our Mailing List > Want to change how you receive these emails? You can Update Your Preferences or Unsubscribe. © 2026 CaseWorthy, PO Box 70837, West Valley City, UT 84170 • (877) 347-0877 |
| --- |