HIF Champion Spotlight
In 2020, Essex Property Trust established the Essex Cares program to provide direct aid to Essex’s residents, associates, and local communities. Essex Cares is governed by a committee made up of designees from Essex’s senior management, corporate departments, and executive advisors.
Essex’s long history of supporting its associates, residents, and community is especially true in times of need. Essex believes no person should be forced to choose between paying their rent and providing the essential resources they or their families need. This is a dilemma neighbors in our community are faced with every day, which was unfortunately exacerbated by the effects of COVID-19. The programs created within Essex Cares provide assistance for in-need segments of the community, including those who have experienced financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Essex Cares programs focus on three primary areas of assistance: Associates, Residents, and Community.
Essex Cares’ Employee Assistance Programs are dedicated to supporting Essex associates and their contributions to the community. As part of these programs, Essex invests in all areas of the associate journey and provides direct grants to eligible associates or families experiencing hardships such as death or disability. 
The programs also encourage eligible associates to become actively involved in their communities through volunteer opportunities, including a company-wide volunteering event.
The Resident Assistance Program offers an immediate bridge between crisis and stability for households threatened with unforeseen and temporary financial setbacks that limit their ability to perform their lease obligations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 7,000 of our residents were impacted by having lost or reduced employment or needing to take care of loved ones. Some of these impacted residents may need temporary rent relief, and Essex helps these residents through these challenging times, including through a program offering a one-time grant to qualifying resident households and small business tenants.
The Community Assistance Program was created to help alleviate the growing issues surrounding food insecurity, affordable housing, and the digital divide impacting our residents and members of the local community. The monetary donations issued from this program have helped local food banks struggling to keep up with the demand caused by the pandemic, provide families with affordable housing subsidies, and provide access to technology devices bridging the digital divide for low-income families.
