Housing Equity Accelerator
 

Housing Equity Accelerator 

In 2022, LISC Puget Sound joined forces with the Amazon Housing Equity Fund to create the Housing Equity Accelerator (HEA). HEA is addressing the tremendous need for affordable housing by investing in the next generation of housing developers. HEA is designed to amplify the availability of affordable housing by supporting the growth of developers of color in Puget Sound. 

HEA adopts a holistic strategy in empowering its Fellows, focusing on three key pillars: Content, Connections, and Capital. Through a custom-tailored 12-month curriculum and continuous technical assistance, participants are equipped with the necessary skills to expand their enterprises in affordable housing development. HEA fosters networking opportunities within a diverse professional network and provides access to grants and loans to support real estate development projects. Fellows have access to experts at Business Impact NW to help grow their business.

We are thrilled to introduce the 2024 cohort of HEA, consisting of 20 individuals from varied backgrounds, including 10 for-profit and 9 non-profit entities, all sharing a strong commitment to advancing affordable housing and community development in the Puget Sound region. This new cohort boasts eight women and showcases a rich representation from African American, Black Immigrant, American Indian, Asian, and Latin American communities. 16 of the fellows possess firsthand experience in affordable housing, deepening their ties to the communities they serve.

Spanning from Everett to Seattle to Tacoma, the projects in the pipeline by these fellows encompass a diverse array of developments, underscoring their dedication to addressing housing challenges across the entire region.

    Partners

    HEA Fellows 2024 - 2025
    Meet The Fellows
    HEA Fellows 2022 - 2023
    Meet The Fellows
    What we bring to affordable housing development is the deep, deep understanding of what housing can do for families. We do not ignore what our success in this work does for our family and our children’s future, because we acknowledge that we began life in the same place many of the families we are trying to house currently exist.
    — Sylvester Cann IV, HEA Alum, CG Real Estate Group
    Give Resources

    LISC is raising pre-development funds to help emerging developers accelerate their housing projects and bring more affordable homes to our communities. Our Fellows and Alumni need support with essential business services, acquiring land, and covering initial costs like site assessments and feasibility studies. 

    Learn More & Donate
    Give Time

    LISC is actively recruiting volunteers and contractors to share their expertise with emerging developers. We especially need professionals with backgrounds in accounting, tax, affordable housing finance, construction, asset management, and communications. Join us in making a difference!

    Contact Us

    2024 Housing Equity Accelerator Fellows. Photo credit: Bemnet Tade, Plots 'n Pixels Productions