Social Determinants of Health (SDoH)

Nationwide, 10%–20% of all hospital readmissions and emergency visits are linked to housing instability and social needs outside clinical walls, costing health systems billions annually. These upstream factors are known as the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

Across the U.S., and particularly in under-resourced neighborhoods surrounding hospital campuses, housing-related health hazards are a leading driver of healthcare costs and poor health outcomes. Poor housing quality (e.g., mold, pest infestations, structural disrepair) contributes directly to asthma, lead poisoning, injuries, and other preventable conditions.

Many hospitals anchor adjacent neighborhoods where residents face housing-related needs and critical service gaps (e.g., healthy foods, childcare, social services) that may be the root causes for their health issues.

These housing-related health hazards in under-resourced neighborhoods impact residents’ long-term wellbeing and perpetuate structural health, education, and economic inequities down to future generations. 

With OppFund as a trusted intermediary lender, hospitals and impact investors can move upstream, invest where it matters most, and build healthier, more equitable communities together.