The Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) has released the Impact Workforce Toolkit, a practical resource that captures a decade of learning on how health systems can use their hiring and workforce practices to create meaningful economic opportunity in their communities. The results are that community members get a fair shot at a good job with career pathways and […]
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Impact Stories: Place-based Investing — CommonSpirit Health & Step By Step
Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) catalyzes its 70 member health systems to leverage their hiring, purchasing, investing, and other key institutional assets as part of an intentional, place-based strategy to maximize their community impact. When health systems commit to place-based investing, they redirect a portion of their investable assets toward investments that improve the health and […]
Continue ReadingMind the Gap: Connecting Community Benefit and Patient Billing Leaders to Improve Health and Financial Outcomes
Over the last year Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) and Undue Medical Debt collaborated to engage health system revenue cycle, community benefit and population health leaders to align strategies in helping patients avoid medical debt. Through the learning cohort, Mind the Gap: Connecting Community Benefit and Patient Billing, participants worked to forge new connections, better understand roles and data access and develop […]
Continue ReadingKaiser Permanente Impact Purchasing Case Study
As one of the largest nonprofit health systems, Kaiser Permanente’s operations have tremendous economic influence. In 2023, Kaiser Permanente purchased over $22.2 billion in goods and services. An economic impact study estimates that these procurement dollars supported over 176,000 jobs, generated $11.8 billion in income, and contributed $3.4 billion in federal and state taxes. “If […]
Continue ReadingHow LISC & Healthcare Anchor Network Members Are Promoting Community Resiliency: Affordable Housing
Social and economic factors—including access to quality housing and jobs, and opportunities to start and grow a business—shape the health and well-being of communities. Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) are dedicated to helping institutions leverage their financial resources to invest in these social drivers of health to create resilient communities. This is the first of a two-part series highlighting how HAN members are partnering with LISC to invest in affordable housing and economic development.
Continue ReadingIntermountain Health Place-based Investing Case Study
HAN just released a case study on HAN member Intermountain Health’s Place Based Investing program, a strategy embedded across six states: Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. The program deploys low-cost, longer-term capital to address social drivers of health such as housing stability and financial wellness. By committing up to two percent of its […]
Continue ReadingHospitals are affordable housing long-term investors
The Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) and HAN member systems Kaiser Permanente, Boston Medical Center, and Trinity Health are covered in the New York Times article on how health systems are increasingly investing in affordable housing—and are seeing the benefits with improved community health. From the New York Times article: Health systems are, however, not acting as banks, said David Zuckerman, Healthcare Anchor Network’s […]
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HAN’s Impact Workforce Toolkit is a practical resource that captures a decade of learning on how health systems can use their hiring and workforce practices to create meaningful economic opportunity in their communities. Built from case studies and tools drawn directly from health systems across the country, the Impact Workforce Toolkit is designed for practitioners at every stage. The updated […]
Continue ReadingKeep housing affordable for future generations
Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) members CommonSpirit Health and Intermountain Health invest in Denver-based nonprofit Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT), that provides permanent affordable housing by purchasing land and reselling or renting the homes on the land. The ECLT model keeps the home affordable by providing residents long-term leases on the land where their homes are located. ECLT also places maximum […]
Continue ReadingAligning values to invest in communities
HAN member Intermountain Health’s Nick Fritz, director of place based investments, shares insights in this video on:
Continue ReadingReliable housing is essential for good health
Modern Healthcare recognized HAN member Kaiser Permanente for its investments in affordable housing through its Thriving Communities Fund. A recent change in the tax law provides a permanent 12% increase in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which creates an opportunity for health systems to partner with states to invest in affordable and supportive housing. From the Modern Healthcare […]
Continue ReadingEnsuring affordable housing in perpetuity
HAN members Beth Israel Lahey Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Mass General Brigham, along with the City of Boston and other institutions, are investing in and providing financial contributions to the Boston Acquisition Fund (BAF) that was just awarded the 2026 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability in the Finance category. BAF is a public-private revolving loan fund that preserves naturally occurring affordable housing and prevents residential displacement.
Continue ReadingHealth systems turning hiring into community impact
The Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) released the Impact Workforce Toolkit, a practical resource that captures a decade of learning on how health systems can use their hiring and workforce practices to create meaningful economic opportunity in their communities. The results are that community members get a fair shot at a good job with career pathways and health systems […]
Continue ReadingFlourishing communities thanks to anchor investing
Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) member Intermountain Health addresses structural issues through its place-based investing that “lead to people being integrated more fully and healthily into their community.” The Catholic Health Association of the U.S. article details the positive impacts of the investments in financing construction of permanently affordable homes through community land trusts, preserving affordable housing, and lending to people […]
Continue ReadingCommonSpirit Health’s $5 million investment builds childcare access
HAN member CommonSpirit Health’s Community Investment Program recently provided a $5 million bridge loan to Step By Step, a Washington State organization that supports new mothers overcoming trauma and poverty. The loan funded construction of The Barn, a 14,000 square foot early learning center that opened in March 2026 and serves 200 children. The investment came at […]
Continue ReadingHousing stability strengthens the workforce, economy, and overall community health
HAN member SSM Health is partnering with Dane Workforce Housing Fund II and Lake Ridge Bank to invest in the construction of The Bankston Apartments, an $11.2 million, 40-unit workforce housing development in downtown Madison, WI. The apartments will help address the city’s growing shortage of affordable housing, with 30 of the units slated for […]
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