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.
Innovative Model: Health in Place™
OppFund collaborates with health systems in Michigan to align hospital mission with intentional community-based capital deployment. Our shared goal is to improve the upstream conditions that shape residents’ health outcomes. A strategic partnership enables hospital systems and impact investors to make Social Determinants of Health a long-term upstream investment priority, typically over a 5 to 10-year horizon. Core elements of this collaboration include:- Geospatial mapping of priority neighborhoods within the hospital’s service area to identify conditions and investment opportunities
- Ecosystem partner identification and coordination, including CDFIs, community development corporations, SBA intermediaries, housing agencies, and community health organizations.
- Catalytic anchor capital deployment by OppFund to seed projects aligned with shared impact goals
- Establishment of lending workflows, performance monitoring, and transparent reporting on both short-term outputs and long-term health and economic outcomes
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.
Contact Us
Li Ma, Director of Development
lma@oppfund.com