Amazon has announced it has reached a milestone of creating or preserving more than 10,000 affordable homes in the Puget Sound region. This achievement is part of a broader initiative that began in 2021 to address the affordable housing crisis in its hometown communities. The company stated these properties will remain affordable for 99 years, aiming to secure long-term housing stability.
The investment totals over $900 million and is expected to benefit approximately 22,000 residents. “When I think about these affordable homes, I see families finding stability and new opportunities,” said Alice Shobe, director of community impact at Amazon. “I'm grateful to celebrate this milestone with our amazing housing partners, passionate community advocates, and the local officials who've championed these efforts. These are solutions that will make a difference for generations to come.”
Amazon’s efforts include a $100 million commitment to transit-oriented housing in Bellevue and partnerships with organizations such as BRIDGE Housing to preserve affordable apartments in Kirkland. Recent projects include Four Amigos Beloved Community in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood and Connection Angle Lake with Mercy Housing Northwest.
In addition to housing initiatives, Amazon partnered with Prime Video, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Smithsonian Institution on the "TNF for Good" literacy event at Boys & Girls Clubs of King County's Ballard location. Over 125 children participated by selecting books from a collection of more than 1,300 titles.
Another program highlighted is Bumbershoot Gives Back, which encourages volunteers to support food security efforts across Puget Sound. Last year’s campaign collected 127,000 pounds of food for local banks; this year’s goal is mobilizing over 2,000 volunteers to help deliver 15,000 meals.
During Amazon's fourth annual Global Month of Volunteering (GMV), more than 7,600 employees took part in over 580 events across Puget Sound with more than 220 community organizations involved. In Bellevue specifically, employees contributed through participation in the city’s "Keep Bellevue Beautiful" initiative.“We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of the 'Keep Bellevue Beautiful' initiative,” said Beryl Tomay, VP of Amazon Transportation. “Our volunteers' efforts reflect Amazon's commitment to the communities where we live and work.”
Amazon Web Services (AWS) collaborated with Play Like a Girl and the Seattle Seahawks for Tech Touchdown at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. The event introduced middle and high school girls from around Seattle to technology applications within sports.“It was an awesome and inspiring day at the Seahawks Training Facility,” said Julia White, AWS chief marketing officer. “Helping these talented young women see themselves in both sports and STEM was incredibly rewarding.”
Acer House—a new development made possible by a $12.6 million loan from Amazon's housing fund—will provide affordable homes and micro-retail spaces for entrepreneurs in Seattle’s Central District without relying on traditional funding mechanisms like tax credits or subordinate public loans.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a joint $1 million investment by the City of Seattle, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), and Amazon for improvements in Chinatown-International District neighborhoods starting June 2025.
Josh Hirschland from Amazon was recognized by Puget Sound Business Journal as a "40 Under 40" honoree for his work combating food insecurity through logistics expertise that helped deliver over two million meals across Puget Sound since launching during COVID-19.
The company continues its partnership with Seattle Storm on free youth basketball clinics throughout Puget Sound. Zoë Bill from Mary’s Place noted: “The kids had a wonderful time and were so grateful for the experience... Opportunities like this have a lasting impact.”
Two local food banks—White Center Food Bank and Rainier Valley Food Bank—received $1 million each from Amazon aimed at expanding their facilities’ capacity.
In Bellevue specifically, Amazon has committed another $100 million toward accelerating production of affordable housing near transit-oriented sites.
According to recent data reported by Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), foot traffic in downtown areas like South Lake Union has increased significantly since last year due partly to workers returning onsite after remote work periods related to COVID-19 restrictions (https://www.downtownseattle.org/). Weekday worker foot traffic reached about three-quarters of January 2019 levels while unique visitor numbers also rose compared with previous years.
Amazon offers various commuter benefits including reimbursable public transportation costs and free shuttles for employees working at its headquarters locations.