Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. They include factors like socioeconomic status, education, housing, employment, and access to healthcare. Communities that adequately address social determinants of health experience health equity, wherein no one is “disadvantaged from achieving their potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances (CDC.gov).”
St. Pete Free Clinic’s (SPFC’s) programs support health equity by providing nutritious food for those who need it, increasing access to healthcare, and increasing access to housing for those experiencing housing insecurity and substance use challenges.
Additionally, SPFC’s range of programs reduce the economic burdens of Pinellas County’s low-income and Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) population by providing services that lower monthly out-of-pocket expenditures, contribute to savings and long-term economic stability, and support long-term individual and family wellness.