Latest news with #Homeward
Daily Express
18-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Petronas backs healthcare initiatives in Sabah
Published on: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 18, 2025 Text Size: Dr Maria touching a heart replica to mark the launching of the event. Also seen are Tanjung Papat Assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon, Khairuddin M Jaafar and Walter Kinson. SANDAKAN: Petronas recently contributed to the Bulan Pemakanan Malaysia 2025 and Jom Sihat Sandakan event, organised to promote health awareness among the local community. Co-organised by the Sandakan Official Association of Rehabilitation and Duchess of Kent Hospital, the programme focuses on raising public awareness about non-communicable diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Advertisement The aim is to highlight the importance of prevention, early detection and rehabilitation. The initiative was officiated by Sabah Health Director Dr Maria Suleiman. In line with its commitment to community well-being and development – a core pillar of its social impact initiatives – Petronas, together with its social impact arm Yayasan Petronas, consistently supports various health-related programmes in Sabah through strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing, as well as the Sabah State Health Department. 'Petronas' involvement in the programme not only highlights our support for community well-being initiatives, but it also symbolises the spirit of collaboration between the public, private and community sectors for our collective well-being,' said Khairuddin. Petronas and Yayasan Petronas have been supporting healthcare initiatives in Sabah, providing crucial resources where they are needed most. Among its contributions included the funding of Duchess of Kent Hospital's Kent Cottage Anjung Kasih, which offers free accommodation to caregivers of patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, particularly those from remote or outlying areas. Building on this initiative, Petronas also supported the Sabah Social Welfare Department's Homeward initiative, a programme that equips patients recovering at home with essential medical equipment, including high-low beds and oxygen concentrators. Additionally, Yayasan Petronas further extended its support by donating haemodialysis machine sets for kidney treatment and infusion pumps for thalassemia patients, directly impacting the lives of those requiring specialised care. Also present were Duchess of Kent Hospital Director Dr Mohd Fahmie Othman, Sandakan Municipal Council President Walter Kinson, and Senior General Manager of Stakeholder Relations, Petronas Group Strategic Relations and Communications, Khairuddin M Jaafar. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
17-06-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Petronas supports health care and awareness initiatives in Sabah
Dr Maria (centre) touching a 'heart' replica to mark the launch of the event. Also in the picture are Tanjung Papat assembly member, Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung (third from right), Khairuddin M Jaafar (second from right), Walter Kinson (third from left). SANDAKAN (June 17): Petronas recently contributed to the Bulan Pemakanan Malaysia 2025 and Jom Sihat Sandakan event, organised to promote health awareness among the local community. Co-organised by the Sandakan Official Association of Rehabilitation and the Duchess of Kent Hospital, the programme focuses on raising public awareness about non-communicable diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. The aim is to highlight the importance of prevention, early detection and rehabilitation. The initiative was officiated by Sabah Health Director Dr Maria Suleiman. Also present were Duchess of Kent Hospital Director Dr Mohd Fahmie Othman, Sandakan Municipal Council President Walter Kinson, and Senior General Manager of Stakeholder Relations, Petronas Group Strategic Relations and Communications, Khairuddin M Jaafar. In line with its commitment to community well-being and development — a core pillar of its social impact initiatives — Petronas, together with its social impact arm Yayasan Petronas, consistently supports various health-related programmes in Sabah through strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing, as well as the Sabah State Health Department. 'Petronas' involvement in this program not only highlights our support for community well-being initiatives, but it also symbolises the spirit of collaboration between the public, private and community sectors for our collective well-being,' said Khairuddin. Petronas and Yayasan Petronas have been supporting healthcare initiatives in Sabah, providing crucial resources where they are needed most. Among its contributions — the funding of Duchess of Kent Hospital's Kent Cottage Anjung Kasih, which offers free accommodation to caregivers of patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, particularly those from remote or outlying areas. Building on this initiative, Petronas also supported the Sabah Social Welfare Department's Homeward initiative, a programme that equips patients recovering at home with essential medical equipment, including high-low beds and oxygen concentrators. Additionally, Yayasan Petronas further extended its support by donating haemodialysis machine sets for kidney treatment and infusion pumps for thalassemia patients, directly impacting the lives of those requiring specialised care.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Polk County sees new record-high number of unsheltered homeless in PIT count
The number of people experiencing homelessness in Polk County continues to rise, according to a new point-in-time, or PIT, count from local agency Homeward. Approximately 779 individuals were found experiencing homelessness on a single night in January — a 9% increase from last year's 715. Of that, 206 were unsheltered, breaking last year's record of 147, according to Primary Health Care, whose staff and local volunteers led the biannual count Jan. 29. The majority (428) were staying in emergency shelters, 132 were in temporary housing and 13 were in permanent supportive housing. Emergency shelter and housing providers said 94% of their beds were occupied on Jan. 29. Angie Arthur, executive director of Homeward, said the figures are telling: "Homelessness is a very complex situation, and we're seeing the runs of homelessness within our community." More: Des Moines to let churches voluntarily open land for homeless campsites, emergency shelter Stagnant wages and rising cost of living make it tough for Iowans to make ends meet, said Arthur, whose organization released a five-year plan in May to boost the county's housing resources. Cuts to social benefits programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid hit Iowans on fixed incomes the hardest. Lack of affordable housing remains a significant issue for Polk County. For every 100 low-income renter households in the county, just 23 homes are affordable and available, Arthur said. "That's a significant gap for us," she said. Here's what else we learned: Homeward said 161 unsheltered people agreed to a survey. Of those, 78% said their last permanent address was in Polk County, 18% said they lived in another Iowa county, and 4% were from another state. Many were between the ages of 35 and 44. The number of youth and older adults experiencing homelessness also went up. This year's count saw 46 youth experiencing homelessness, a slight increase from last year's total of 41. Adults 65 and older made up roughly 6% of the count, compared to 3.5% recorded last year. Arthur noted the county's lack of affordable housing as part of this issue. More: How would $500 a month change your life? These Iowans got it for 2 years; how it helped Black residents in Polk County are disproportionately impacted by homelessness. While they only make up about 9% of the county's population, 24% identified as Black during the PIT count. A majority (59%) identified as White. "It's important to remember and to think about the systems that are in play," Arthur said. "Lots of times folks have been failed by multiple systems before they enter into homelessness." "So, how can we better work to prevent homelessness to begin with or support those folks that are experiencing it?" she continued. "We know when we help the most vulnerable folks in our community, we're helping our whole community." F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@ or follow her on X @writefelissa. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Polk County sees new record-high number of unsheltered homeless
Axios
16-06-2025
- General
- Axios
More older adults are homeless in Des Moines
Homelessness is rising in Des Moines compared to last year, with a notable increase among seniors ages 65+, according to a new report from local nonprofit Homeward. Driving the news: Local data shows that 779 people were experiencing homelessness in Polk County during a single night, Jan. 29-30 — a 9% increase from the same time last year. The local homeless population is also aging. Seniors (65+) made up 6% (44 people) of the total this year, up from 3.5% (20 people) last year. The point-in-time survey measures both sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness on one designated night. State of play: Seniors often rely on fixed incomes or disability benefits and have limited ability to increase their earnings, even as inflation drives up living costs, says Homeward executive director Angie Arthur. The recent increase in homelessness is attributable to the end of pandemic aid that helped keep people afloat the last few years, such as supplemental SNAP benefits and housing assistance. Zoom in: Matt Hauge of Polk County Housing Trust Fund says he's concerned that recent federal policy proposals could put vulnerable seniors at greater risk. The U.S. House recently passed a bill that includes billions in Medicaid cuts. President Donald Trump's FY26 budget proposal includes a 43% cut in federal rental assistance, per the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The intrigue: Around 29,500 Iowa senior households are extremely low-income, which is considered at or below the federal poverty guideline of $15,650 for a single person.
Business Wire
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Homeward and Meijer Launch Rural Health Partnership to Expand Care Access for Michiganders
SAN MATEO, Calif. & GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Homeward®, a technology-enabled rural health platform dedicated to expanding access to quality healthcare in rural America, today announced a strategic partnership with Meijer, a privately owned, family-operated Midwest retailer, to improve healthcare access and care coordination for Medicare-eligible residents across the state. Rural Michiganders face significant health and economic disparities compared to those living in urban areas, with lower median household incomes, fewer primary care providers, and higher rates of chronic conditions like diabetes. The lack of reliable broadband access may limit their ability to participate in virtual care, while higher levels of food insecurity and reduced access to specialized services underscore the need for improved healthcare solutions in rural communities. To address these needs, Homeward and Meijer are partnering to make healthcare more accessible for seniors across Michigan. Through this partnership, eligible Meijer pharmacy customers will gain access to comprehensive health management support, including help with coordinating preventive care, simplifying medication access, and addressing social factors that impact their overall well-being. The Homeward Navigation™ platform will leverage advanced analytics to connect eligible seniors to the right care and local resources, with the goal of effectively addressing social determinants of health and improving holistic health outcomes. Research shows Medicare beneficiaries visit the pharmacy nearly twice as often as they visit their primary care physician, building on research supporting the benefits of integrating pharmacists into care teams. With Homeward members in Michigan already frequenting Meijer pharmacies, the partnership leverages Meijer's strong presence across the state, particularly in rural areas, to make healthcare more accessible. In addition to Meijer's established footprint in rural counties of the Upper Peninsula, all 43 Lower Peninsula counties served by Homeward have a Meijer pharmacy either within the county or in an adjacent county. 'We are proud to partner with Meijer, a trusted, family-owned retailer deeply rooted in the communities we serve. Grocers and pharmacies are among the most frequented and trusted places in rural areas, and our partnership will make care delivery and support more convenient and accessible across rural Michigan,' said Co-Founder and CEO of Homeward, Dr. Jennifer Schneider. 'This partnership underscores Homeward's commitment to meeting the unique needs of each community by building tailored care models that make it easier for people to access the quality care they need to get and stay healthy.' By meeting people where they live and shop, this collaboration helps bridge critical gaps in care, ensuring rural Michiganders receive the support they need to lead healthier lives. 'At Meijer, we are committed to delivering services and products that enhance the well-being of our customers and communities. This includes rural areas that experience limited access to healthcare and healthy foods,' said Jackie Morse, Group Vice President for Meijer Pharmacy & Health. 'Through our partnership with Homeward, we are enhancing care coordination for rural Michiganders, helping them navigate healthcare services, access the support they need, and address key social determinants of health. By fostering better collaboration between patients and healthcare providers, this partnership ensures patients receive high quality, coordinated care.' For more information about Homeward, its services in Michigan, and eligibility, visit For more information about Meijer and a list of locations, visit About Meijer Meijer is a privately owned, family-operated retailer that serves customers at more than 500 supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets, and express locations throughout the Midwest. As the pioneer of the one-stop shopping concept, more than 70,000 Meijer team members work hard to deliver a friendly, seamless in-store and online shopping experience featuring an assortment of fresh foods, high-quality apparel, household essentials, and health and wellness products and services. Meijer is consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work and annually donates at least 6 percent of its profit to strengthen its communities. Additional information on the company can be found by visiting About Homeward Homeward is rearchitecting rural healthcare by pairing AI-native infrastructure with deeply human services. As the only AI-native platform built specifically for rural populations, we partner with payers and providers to extend clinical capacity, close care gaps, and deliver population-level outcomes at scale—improving health, reducing costs, and restoring trust in care where it's needed most. As a public benefit corporation and B Corp™ certified company, Homeward's mission and business model are aligned to address the healthcare, economic, and demographic challenges that make it harder for rural Americans to stay healthy. For more information, please visit
