Amazon Housing
Equity Fund
With low-rate loans, grants, and partnerships with local governments and nonprofit agencies, Amazon is working to address the national housing affordability challenges starting in our hometown communities.
Why Housing?
The cost of housing is rising and families who make a low-to-moderate income are having a hard time finding housing they can afford.
70% find themselves financially strained with housing costs, and people of color are disproportionately affected. To address this issue, Amazon will invest directly in efforts where our financial support will make a difference.
-3.79M Homes
Housing Underproduction in the U.S.
According to non-profit organization, Up for Growth, a nationally recognized expert in housing and related policy issues, housing production is not keeping pace with housing need, leaving the nation in an extreme state of housing underproduction. From 2012 to 2019, housing underproduction jumped from a 1.65M shortfall of needed homes to 3.79M today.
And though many regions across the nation have been wrangling with housing issues for years, very few are showing signs of improvement. In fact, 72 regions that were underproduced in 2012 have gotten worse, while only 14 regions are in the process of recovery. Another 75 regions that had adequate production in 2012 are now in danger of falling short. To solve a problem as big as the affordable housing shortage, we need the collaboration of everyone it touches. Luckily, there are tools and tactics that can be deployed at every level of government and across the private and nonprofit sectors to help address this challenge.
Housing Innovation
Creating & Preserving Affordable Housing
The Amazon Housing Equity Fund supports affordable housing developments focused on low-to-moderate-income households earning 30% to 80% of area median income (AMI). This population often includes first responders, teachers, health care workers, and others who don’t typically qualify for subsidies but whose wages haven’t kept pace with escalating rents.
Transit-Oriented Development
Amazon’s $300 million TOD commitment are partnerships with public transit agencies to support the creation of 3,000 new affordable homes near high-capacity public transit areas. This partnership focuses on promoting equity across racial and economic lines for low- to moderate-income communities by providing easy access to quality transit that connects them to the rest of the region.
Minority Developers
A key goal of the Fund is to support both minority-led developers and minority-led local nonprofits. Nearly 50% of Amazon’s announced investments were committed to help advance the work of these two groups, with another 15% going to projects in partnership with public agencies.
Our Impact
2022 Impact Report
Since the launch of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, which was officially announced in January 2021, Amazon has helped provide long-term affordable housing that will support an estimated 18,000 people.
News & Announcements
Amazon commits $147 million to create and preserve 1,260 affordable homes across Washington D.C.
Amazon announces first affordable homes near transit stations
