In an unexpected twist, six hospitals and health systems have decided they’re not just going to treat patients—they’re going to house them too. That’s right, instead of focusing solely on medicine, these institutions are now touting their latest crusade: affordable housing. They say it’s all part of an effort to combat the social determinants of health. In other words, they claim that if people just had a decent roof over their heads, we’d all be a lot healthier. But, let’s take a moment and ask ourselves: is this really about the people, or is it about the growing bureaucratic machinery that feeds off public dollars?

To be clear, no one is opposed to the idea of people having a place to live. It’s a basic human need. But when healthcare institutions—already bloated with bureaucracy and cost overruns—suddenly shift gears to housing, it begs the question: Why are hospitals stepping into a domain they know little about? It’s not as if these healthcare giants have been known for their financial savvy or efficiency in managing complex systems.

These institutions are now focusing on increasing affordable housing in the regions they serve. While the intent might sound noble on the surface, we’ve seen this kind of initiative before. Remember how Medicare and Medicaid were supposed to solve all of healthcare’s problems? Instead, we’re drowning in debt, with fraud and inefficiency running rampant. So, what happens when we hand over housing to the same institutions that can’t even make sure your doctor’s office isn’t billing you for services you never received?

Let’s not kid ourselves: hospitals love to jump on the “social good” bandwagon because it looks great on their quarterly reports. It gives them a public relations boost and a fat check from the government, all while diverting attention from the glaring issues within their own walls. And who’s left to pick up the bill for all of this? You guessed it—the taxpayer.

We’ve already seen how government-run housing projects have gone in the past. They’re plagued with inefficiency, waste, and rampant corruption. Now, we’re supposed to believe that healthcare institutions, already neck-deep in red tape, are going to somehow “solve” the housing crisis? The odds aren’t looking good.

So, while it’s easy to get caught up in the feel-good rhetoric about solving homelessness and improving health outcomes, let’s not forget who’s really benefiting here: the healthcare industry itself. The real question isn’t whether or not hospitals can build affordable housing—it’s whether or not we should trust the same institutions that can’t even get your bill right to manage a housing program.