Airbnb (ABNB) said late Monday it will invest an initial $250 million in housing projects to help unlock more than $5 billion in capital for new housing over the next 10 years.
The company said the investment will provide final financing for rental housing projects that have cleared most regulatory hurdles but lack enough funding to begin construction. Its first investment of $6.4 million will support 201 affordable housing units in Austin, Texas, as part of a larger 500-unit St. John redevelopment project, the company said.
Airbnb will also support local groups seeking zoning changes, permitting and building rules to encourage more housing construction, the company said, adding it plans to launch a dataset comparing housing policies and outcomes across cities later this year.
Airbnb said it is also launching a $5 million housing innovation prize, with five $1 million awards for companies and nonprofits developing technology to make homebuilding faster and less expensive.
Airbnb also said it plans to introduce the Airbnb City Index later this year, providing data on housing policies and their impact on housing supply and affordability across cities.