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.

A row of several town homes with silver car parked in one of the the driveways.

-3.79M Homes

Housing underproduction shortfall as of 2022

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

Illustration of a group of people working on a construction project.

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.

Illustration of a train station with a train stopped at a platform

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.

Illustration of an urban construction site with a crane, heavy equipment and buildings

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.

Two construction workers standing on scaffolding in front of a building