CareSource donates $100,000 to Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation to help improve housing conditions for members

ATLANTA (February 22, 2023) –  CareSource, a mission-driven Medicaid plan serving more than 500,000 Georgians, has invested $100,000 in the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, the largest provider of pro bono legal services in Atlanta.

Through this first-of-its-kind program, community legal health workers will connect CareSource members to legal support through home visits, mobile unit visits for members experiencing intimate partner abuse, and courthouse visits. The partnership will document and combine data and outcomes collected from AVLF attorneys, clinical teams and CareSource to address social determinants of health through collaboration and provide a comprehensive plan for improving member health. AVLF serves more than 5,000 low-income Atlantans every year.

“This unprecedented partnership between CareSource and AVLF is one-way CareSource works to address the whole health of Georgians and provide wrap-around services to our members,” said Jason Anavitarte, CareSource Georgia director of life services and health equity. “We often hear from members about poor living conditions that adversely affect their health. For example, a member may contact us about mold in their home that triggers asthma and a landlord who refuses to rectify the situation. Through this partnership with AVLF, we are now able to directly connect members to legal services to fight on their behalf for safe and healthy housing."

CareSource’s investment will fund community legal health workers in Fulton County and help AVLF continue to advocate for safe and stable housing, including supporting AVLF’s Housing Court Assistance Center for Atlanta tenants whose landlords are taking them to court as well as AVLF’s eviction defense program that provides lawyers for individuals who are facing eviction.

“This partnership is one of the most impactful ways to address social determinants of health that I’ve seen in our state. CareSource shares our commitment to improving outcomes for individuals and families in Georgia, and we are grateful for the generous donation that will fund this program as we work together for the good of Georgians,” said Michael Lucas, AVLF executive director.

ABOUT AVLF

AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups in Atlanta and Fulton County, Georgia – low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools and in our clients’ homes. To learn more visit www.avlf.org.