St. Peter’s Health Foundation has received $40,000 in grant funding from PacificSource to expand community programs that improve health and wellbeing for people experiencing housing insecurity and support access to healthcare services and items needed for healing across St. Peter’s Health’s five-county service area.
The funding includes a $25,000 grant from the PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement to support St. Peter’s Health’s Housing is Healthcare program and a $15,000 Community Health Excellence Grant to expand the St. Peter’s Health Foundation Patient Assistance Program. Both programs rely on grants and community contributions to meet growing local needs, and PacificSource’s investment helps sustain these critical services.
The Housing is Healthcare program is led by St. Peter’s Health Community Health Workers (CHWs), who work directly with people experiencing homelessness or housing instability to reconnect them with medical and behavioral healthcare, substance use treatment, Medicaid and other public assistance programs, and housing resources. Stable housing is foundational to health. By addressing the social and economic factors that influence wellbeing, the program improves long-term health outcomes and reduces avoidable emergency department visits for people with complex medical and social needs. In 2025, more than 60 people in the Helena community were supported through the program.
The St. Peter’s Health Foundation Patient Assistance Program helps remove barriers that can prevent people from accessing care and the essential resources they need to heal—items not covered by insurance or other programs and often unaffordable for patients. Support includes transportation assistance, gas cards, medications, medical supplies, and other items needed for recovery. In 2025 alone, the program provided $205,254 in assistance to 1,183 patients and their families across St. Peter’s Health’s five-county service area.
“Access to care isn’t just about doctors and clinics. When people have a way to get to care and the resources they need to heal and stabilize their lives, health outcomes improve and our whole community benefits. Programs like our Patient Assistance Fund and Housing is Healthcare are key solutions to these challenges. We’re grateful to PacificSource for their support,” said Wade Johnson.
“At PacificSource, we believe that health starts long before someone walks into a clinic. Stable housing, transportation and access to basic resources all play a critical role in health and recovery. Through our support of St. Peter’s Health’s Housing is Healthcare and Patient Assistance programs, we’re proud to invest in solutions that meet people where they are and strengthen the health of the Helena community,” said Erik Wood, Enterprise Market President, PacificSource.
Through partnerships, contributions, and grant support, St. Peter’s Health continues to work to ensure people across the Helena region have the opportunity to live healthier, more stable lives. PacificSource is a valued partner in improving health and wellbeing for the community.