Alternative Family Living
A Real Home.
A Real Family.
A Life That's Yours.
Alternative Family Living matches you with a caring, trained host family, so you live as part of a real household with support built around who you are and what a good day looks like to you.
Start Here
What Alternative Family Living Means
AFL means moving into a household and staying part of it.
Alternative Family Living, or AFL, is a residential service for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. You become part of a real household, with one host provider who is trained, background-checked, and committed for the long haul, instead of a rotating staff schedule. You keep your own room, your own routines where possible, and a level of support matched to you, from a light hand that checks in occasionally to help with nearly everything, every hour of the day.
Alternative Family Living (AFL): a Medicaid-funded residential service where you live in the private home of a trained host provider, with support at a level matched to your needs.
Is This You?
Who AFL Is Built For
AFL is available to adults approved for Residential Supports through the NC Innovations Waiver (Levels I through IV) or the 1915(i) program (Levels III and IV). Within that, it fits a wide range of people and needs.
You want real family relationships
You build lasting relationships with one household instead of adjusting to a rotating roster of paid staff. You want people who know you.
Your support needs fit Level I-IV
From occasional supervision and help with daily tasks (Level I-II) to ongoing, hands-on support for medical, behavioral, or cognitive needs around the clock (Level III-IV).
Everyday Life
What a Day in AFL Looks Like
Your host home runs on your rhythm, because it's built around you. Most days share a few things in common.
- Meals and routines together. You share meals, chores, and household rhythms with your host family, the same as anyone would in a home they belong to.
- Personal care and health support, if you need it. Hosts are trained to help with medication, mobility, or personal care tasks at whatever level your plan calls for.
- Getting out into the community. Your host helps you get to day programs, therapy, medical appointments, and the activities you enjoy, from errands to outings with friends.
- Being part of the family's actual life. Birthdays, holidays, Saturday plans, inside jokes: the household includes you in all of it.
What this looks like in practice: art supplies out on the porch table, a favorite drink poured, someone who wants to hear about your day sitting across from you. It's a small moment, and it's also the whole point of AFL: living each day alongside people who know you.
Compare Your Options
AFL vs. Group Home vs. Supported Living
CCMS offers all three residential paths, because the right fit is personal. The table below compares AFL with the other two.
| Feature | Alternative Family Living | Group Home | Supported Living |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you live | A private family home, as part of the household | A staffed residential facility with other residents | Your own apartment or home |
| Who's with you day-to-day | A consistent, trained host provider | Rotating shifts of paid staff | Staff who visit on a set schedule |
| Best fit for | Steady, family-style relationships | Peer community with structured staffing | Greater independence, support close by |
| Level of supervision | Matched to your Level I-IV, up to 24/7 | Scheduled coverage, often 24/7 | As-needed or scheduled visits |
Getting Started
How You Get Matched With an AFL Home
Moving is a big decision, and our process reflects that. Four steps take you from first conversation to move-in.
Tell us about you
We start with a real conversation, your routines, your interests, your support needs, and what a good day looks like for you or your loved one.
Assessment and matching
We confirm your approved Residential Supports level (Innovations Waiver or 1915(i)) and match you with a background-checked, trained host home suited to your personality and needs, not just an open bed.
Meet, visit, and move at your pace
You and your family meet the host provider, visit the home, and plan a transition timeline that feels right, not rushed.
Ongoing oversight and support
Once you've moved in, your CCMS care team stays involved with regular visits, check-ins, and 24/7 on-call support for you and your host family alike.
Your Advocate
Why Families Trust CCMS With This Decision
AFL only works when the people behind it take it seriously:
- Every host is vetted and trained. Background checks, home safety inspections, and CCMS training happen before anyone moves in, and continue afterward.
- Matching is personal, not a placement. We consider personality, culture, routines, and support needs, so the fit holds.
- Family stays part of the team. Guardians and family members are kept informed and are welcome to stay closely involved.
- Support grows with you. As needs change, your care team adjusts the level of support, or the setting itself, together with you.
A Look Inside
Home Life in an AFL Household
These are real moments from the lives of individuals CCMS serves: shared time at home, the kind of ordinary connection AFL is built to protect. Every AFL home looks different, because every match is different.
Availability
Current Vacancies
Openings move quickly, so we keep this to general locations rather than exact addresses. Call our team at 704-780-4552 to check current availability and talk through what would fit.
Alternative Family Living Homes
Albemarle, NC 28001
Stanly County
Fayetteville, NC 28314
Cumberland County
Greensboro, NC 27455
Guilford County
Shelby, NC 28150
Cleveland County
Supported Living
Laurel Twig, NC
Preston Lane, NC
Bessemer City, NC 28016
Gaston County
Looking for Supported Living instead of a host home? See our Supported Living page for more on that option.
Out and About
A Full Life in the Community
Your host helps you stay connected to the community you already love, or helps you find a new one.
Explore more of what community-based support looks like through our full range of IDD and TBI services, including day programs, supported living, and community living and support.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Alternative Family Living?
Alternative Family Living, or AFL, is a residential service where an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability lives in the private home of a trained, background-checked host provider instead of a group home or facility. You become part of that household, with your own room, a say in your routine, and steady relationships with the same people, day after day.
Who is AFL a good fit for?
AFL is designed for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who qualify for Residential Supports through the NC Innovations Waiver (Levels I through IV) or the 1915(i) program (Levels III and IV). It fits people who want the rhythm of family life, whether that means light, occasional support or supervision and hands-on help around the clock.
What does a typical day look like in an AFL home?
Most days mix ordinary home life with the individual support in your plan: meals together, help with personal care or medication if needed, and time built around your interests. Your host also helps you get to day programs, therapy appointments, and community activities, and includes you in the household's own routines, from Saturday errands to holiday traditions.
How are AFL host families screened and supported?
Every AFL host completes background checks, home safety inspections, and CCMS training before anyone moves in. Once you're matched, your CCMS care team stays involved with regular visits, ongoing training for your host, and 24/7 on-call support, so both you and your host family always have someone to call.
Does my family stay involved after I move in?
Yes. Guardians and family members stay part of the care team when you move into an AFL home. CCMS keeps them informed, and they're welcome to visit and stay connected in whatever way works for your relationship.
What does AFL cost, and how is it paid for?
AFL is a Medicaid-funded service delivered through the NC Innovations Waiver or the 1915(i) program, based on your approved level of care. Because coverage details depend on your individual plan, your CCMS care coordinator and your local LME/MCO can walk you through exactly what's included for your situation.
How is AFL different from a group home or supported living?
A group home is a staffed facility where several residents live together with paid staff working rotating shifts. Supported living means keeping your own apartment or home with staff visiting on a schedule. AFL sits in between: you live inside a real family's home, with a consistent host rather than rotating staff, at a level of support matched to your needs.
What if the match isn't the right fit?
Not every first match is a perfect one, and that's expected. Your CCMS care team checks in regularly and will work with you and your family to adjust support, find a different host home, or explore another setting entirely if AFL stops being the right fit.
Go Deeper
More Ways to Explore AFL
Helpful reading before you decide
Official resources on eligibility and the waiver programs behind AFL.
Related from Covenant
Our Promise
You Deserve to Be Known, Not Just Housed
Every person who moves into an AFL home is somebody's family, and we never treat that lightly. From the first conversation to years down the road, our team stays close, so the home you find is one you can count on.
Take the Next Step
Ready to See If AFL Is Right for You?
Tell us a little about yourself or the person you love, and our AFL team will reach out to talk through eligibility, answer your questions, and help you picture what home could look like.