A steady foundation after the storm
Severe weather is an inevitability for the communities Trillium serves. Almost half of Trillium's 46 counties sit right on the North Carolina coast. When storms hit, they can take everything in a single night. That's what happened to Coretta.
A tropical storm destroyed Coretta’s home. She and her family lost everything and had nowhere to go. She didn't know how she would keep a roof over her children's heads. Without a stable place to live, Coretta lost her job, too. Losing their home compounded with the financial stress around lack of income can have serious impacts on both physical and behavioral health. Coretta needed a safe place to house her family, provide for her kids, and keep their lives on track.
That's when she found Back@Home, a North Carolina housing program. Trillium Health Resources delivers Back@Home services to families across 26 counties in eastern North Carolina. While she waited for a permanent home, Coretta and her family stayed in a hotel. It kept them safe, but it wasn't easy.
Today, Coretta and her family have a home of their own. "Through the help of God and the Back@Home program, I am housed, looking for employment, and my children are thriving," she said. Despite these challenges, her children kept succeeding. Her son graduated high school and now attends Shaw University. Her daughter, a top student, was accepted into the North Carolina School of Science and Math.
"I couldn't be a prouder parent. I can finally sleep at night, knowing we have a safe place to lay our heads."
Coretta's story isn't rare. Last year, 463 people received a referral for the Back@Home program through Trillium. Trillium staff were able to serve 351 individuals and families through Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Street Outreach. At the end of the fiscal year 2026, 303 of those households are safely housed or still connected to support.
Housing is a powerful driver for overall health. It is a key determinant of health that must be secured before we can take care of other needs like finding a job or making it to our doctor’s appointments. Back@Home is funded by federal and state grants. North Carolina selected Trillium to bring that support to families in eastern North Carolina, drawing on Trillium's deep roots in our communities. Losing a home can hurt health, too. Added stress and missed care due to uncertainty costs our system. That's why Trillium stays close to the neighborhoods and people it serves, working to reach families before a hard moment turns into a crisis. Back@Home is one way, among many, that Trillium invests in the health of the people and places it calls home.