PUBLIC HOUSING (PH) READINESS CHALLENGE
PROTECTING PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME.
Disasters don’t wait—and too many communities aren’t ready. The PH Readiness Challenge is a national call to action for Executive Directors (and leaders) of public housing authorities, congressional staff, local officials, and nonprofit partners to help prepare the country’s most overlooked and under-resourced housing communities before the next disaster strikes.
1.5M
THE ISSUE

INDIVIDUALS AND ​
FAMILIES
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Live in public housing but are often excluded from local emergency planning, leaving residents and staff unprepared when disaster strikes.​​
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​Experience physical vulnerability due to older properties: nearly 30% of public housing units failed their latest HUD inspection, increasing the risk of damage and displacement during disasters (National Low Income Housing Coalition - 2024).
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​Reside in census tracts with the greatest risk from heatwaves, tornadoes, or floods—heat waves are the most prevalent natural hazard threatening residents of federally assisted homes (National Low Income Housing Coalition - 2023). ​
WHY IT MATTERS
1 in 5

PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS
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Are in rural areas and usually ​do not meet the minimum damage threshold because of their small population, preventing them from receiving and accessing the needed funding to recover after disasters (Center for Disaster Philanthropy)
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Are located in communities with limited staffing and emergency response capacity—making it harder to coordinate relief efforts or access federal recovery resources (U.S. Government Accountability Office).
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​Are in areas with poor internet and cell service, creating barriers to receiving alerts, coordinating aid, and completing online applications for disaster assistance (U.S. Government Accountability Office 2025​).​​
OUR GOAL

10K
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With custom emergency plans to meet the unique needs of families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
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With training that empowers residents to take early action—before emergency systems become overwhelmed—building resilience from the ground up.
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With localized preparedness strategies that reflect the realities of the communities they live in, ensuring no resident is left to figure it out alone.
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With easy-to-use tools that help them understand the local risks around them and strengthen their network of support before disaster strikes.
HOUSEHOLDS EQUIPPED
HOW IT WORKS
4

EASY STEPS TO JOIN
THE CHALLENGE
1. As a leader, you take the first step - Show your commitment to protecting residents by requesting and completing our 5-question, Community Disaster Readiness Assessment.
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2. We'll generate your community's readiness score - We'll review your responses and arrange a quick call to discuss the readiness score for your community and provide you with a free report that can be used for future planning and/or potential grant funding justifications.
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3. You choose the date that works best - Select when you'd like us to deliver our disaster preparedness planning workshop to your community.
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4. Complete the Readiness Challenge - We bring the tools. You bring the people. Upon completion, every workshop participant leaves with an emergency plan for disasters unique to their household.
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