LOUISVILLE, Ky. and
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Families and
individuals struggling with homelessness are often unable to
prioritize their health or obtain needed preventive care such as
health screenings, vaccinations or manage chronic conditions like
diabetes and asthma. To address this issue, WellCare of
Kentucky, a subsidiary of WellCare
Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE:WCG), has awarded $8,500 in "micro-grants" to support six
organizations working to address the needs of homeless
Kentuckians.
WellCare's micro-grant program is one facet of its commitment to
building partnerships with community-based organizations that offer
support in meeting basic social needs. These are small grants of up
to $1,500 each that help communities
find their own solutions to challenges that affect the health of
individuals and families.
In Kentucky, these micro-grants
aim to help homeless Kentuckians find their way back to stable
living environments, and thus, more healthy lives. For example, one
micro-grant will help pay for bus tokens and provide transportation
for homeless women in Henderson
County. Many women who will benefit from these grants are
struggling to put their lives back together after leaving an
abusive relationship, recovering from substance abuse or managing
other significant life setbacks. Reliable transportation will
enable them to attend interviews, find housing or go to medical
appointments.
Another grant is aimed at the rapidly growing population of
homeless seniors in Fayette and
Jessamine counties. This program
will connect seniors to area housing options they may not otherwise
have known they qualify for.
This year's micro-grants related to homelessness include:
- The Coalition for the Homeless in Jefferson County – A $1,500 micro-grant will support the hiring of a
housing specialist who will help connect homeless individuals with
housing vouchers to available housing.
- Mountain Comprehensive Care Center in Morgan County – A $1,500 micro-grant will support efforts to help
homeless individuals get needed documents, such as birth
certificates and photo ID cards, which are often needed for job
interviews and housing applications.
- Bluegrass Area Agency on Living and Independent Living in
Fayette and Jessamine Counties – A $1,000 micro-grant will assist homeless seniors
by educating them on available resources to assist with housing or
other needs.
- Pathways Inc. in Boyd and
Rowan Counties – A
$1,500 micro-grant will support teens
and young adults with behavioral health challenges by providing
basic clothing and other needs standing in the way of employment or
educational goals.
- Paducah Cooperative Ministry in McCracken County – A $1,500 micro-grant will help furnish a children's
playroom where homeless children can play while parents can learn
helpful parenting technique.
- The Father Bradley Shelter in
McCracken County – A
$1,500 micro-grant will support the
purchase of 1,000 bus tokens for homeless women and the hiring of a
caseworker, who will work with homeless women to help them access
services as they work toward self-sufficiency.
"These grants give community-based groups the boost they need to
try new things, take promising programs to the next level, and help
individuals lead healthier lives," said Bill Jones, president of WellCare of
Kentucky. "Often, it's something
simple that is keeping someone who is homeless from getting a job
or qualifying for housing – not being able to get to a job
interview, not having appropriate clothes for an interview, not
having an address where they can get a copy of their Social
Security card mailed. These problems can be solved by caring
organizations at the community-level with just a little
support."
"WellCare's micro-grant will provide the Coalition for the
Homeless with critical matching funds to hire a housing specialist
who will assist 75 homeless people in 2017 as they move out of a
shelter or off the streets and into safe, stable housing," said
Catherine McGeeney, director of
development, Coalition for the Homeless.
"Paducah Cooperative Ministry is delighted and grateful to
receive a $1,500 micro-grant from
WellCare," said Heidi Suhrheinrich,
executive director, Paducah Cooperative Ministries. "These funds
will be used to help furnish the new 'WINGS' children's room at our
Fresh Start Village homeless shelter. The WINGS program is designed
to reduce the negative impact of homelessness on youngsters by
helping parents build stronger bonds with their children in
addition to learning positive parenting
techniques."
As of Sept. 30, 2016, WellCare
serves approximately 440,000 Medicaid members, 8,000 Medicare
Advantage plan members and 20,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
members in Kentucky. To learn more
about how WellCare cares for Kentuckians, watch Brandi Logan's member story at
http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in
Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health
Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing
government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through
Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans,
to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical
needs. WellCare serves approximately 3.8 million members nationwide
as of Sept. 30, 2016. For more
information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at
www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at
https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wellcare-awards-8500-in-micro-grants-to-support-social-service-agencies-that-address-homelessness-in-kentucky-300390931.html
SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.