Couple moving in to new home
Impact

Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is built into Amherst’s business platform. Through community engagement, service projects, employee support, and philanthropic investments, Amherst is reimagining what it means to be a good corporate citizen and an integral part of a community.

Amherst Cares team

Amherst Cares

Amherst launched CARES in 2017 in collaboration with the University of Texas School of Social Work. CARES features an in-house team of social workers and program specialists who work directly with residents in need. When it comes to housing support, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the CARES Team offers individualized support, tailored to residents’ unique circumstances. CARES Team members have been on the front lines of Amherst’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting eligible residents experiencing financial hardship to the federal and local rental assistance programs available to them.

We are helping our residents achieve housing stability, and we are providing them emotional support and resources so that they can advocate for themselves in the future.
Annmarie FelchCARES Specialist
Annmarie Felch
Toy houses with question marks printing on them

Responding to COVID by Putting Residents First

Our resident-facing teams provided residents with information about the federal government’s Emergency Rental Assistance program, navigating resources and available local support, and gave guidance to those eligible on how to request financial relief. Additionally, we established a cascading series of Renter Retention options, including rent deferrals, payment credits, partial or reduced rent payments, leading up to rent or lease forgiveness. These options allowed many of our residents to remain in their homes while getting back on track.

The COVID-19 pandemic immediately disrupted everyday life for millions of Americans, including many of our Main Street Renewal residents. Stable housing for our residents is a top priority from both a mission and business perspective. From the outset of the pandemic, teams across the firm jumped into action to keep our residents, vendors, and team members safe and supported through the ever-shifting landscape.

  • 5,000+Residents Assisted Since Onset of the Pandemic*
  • 2017Year CARES Launched
  • 10Cares Specialists Offering Support

*Since March 2020

Volunteers

Amherst Foundation

The Amherst Foundation supports numerous initiatives in areas where we live and work, with a targeted focus in education, social services, medical research, and the health and welfare of our country’s military personnel. Through the Amherst Foundation and its contributions, we make a meaningful difference in the lives of people and communities in need.

The Amherst Foundation also provides an employee charitable giving matching program through which we amplify the charitable contributions Amherst employees make to qualified secular and apolitical nonprofit organizations with non-discriminatory missions. Through this program, we can have an impact on smaller, local community-based organizations that align with our employees’ values.

  • National Coalition For Homeless Veterans
  • Dana Faber Cancer Institute
  • Girls Empowerment Network
  • Feeding America
  • The Nobility Project
  • ReadWorks
  • Navy Seal Foundation
  • The Texas Conference for Women
  • Central Texas Food Bank
  • Project Schoolhouse
  • 100 Black Men
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Mount Sinai
  • Firefly Fund
  • Kids in Need Foundation
Volunteers donating bookbags

Cap City Kids

CapCityKids (The Capital City Fund for Education) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization created by Amherst’s founders to help children facing homelessness beat the odds, get a quality education, and receive the support they need to succeed in the classroom.

The organization’s operations are housed within Amherst, making it unique among similar nonprofits because a higher percentage of monies donated can flow directly to students and families in need.

CapCityKids works through homeless liaisons in 30 public school systems to identify the resources to pilot and launch bespoke programs serving at-risk students while securing long-term program sponsors and offering zero-cost administrative oversight. The organization also provides direct resources in the form of school supplies and gift cards. To learn more about CapCityKids and how to help, visit capcitykids.org.

  • 50K+Service Hours Provided by Social Work Interns
  • 30K+Tutoring Hours Provided to Groups and Individuals
  • 11K+Backpacks Filled with School Supplies
  • 7,300+Holiday Gift Cards Provided to Families Experiencing Homelessness