Session

As the frequency and severity of climate-related events increase, the need for “integrated” resilient, green, and healthy housing retrofits has never been more critical. Technical assistance plays a pivotal role with supporting communities and stakeholders to develop, implement, and maintain integrated housing solutions.

This panel will explore innovative approaches to technical assistance in the context of integrated housing retrofits, focusing on how expertise can empower stakeholders across the housing value chain to build safe, sustainable, and adaptable housing structures.

Panelists will discuss successful technical assistance programs that combine structural resilience with improvements for health, wellbeing, and sustainability. These programs bridge the gap between knowledge and action, highlighting in particular the Resilience Beacons model that Build Change first piloted in Nepal and has been implementing following the recent earthquakes in Turkey; and the Resilience Academies program implemented by IBTS with Enterprise Community Partners.

Both models prioritized holistic home retrofits that combined structural strengthening with green building improvements and have addressed questions surrounding vulnerability and risk, resilience planning, and connecting meaningfully with residents and homeowners for community-centered approaches. The conversation also will address the role of technology and partnerships in improving and innovating further on housing resilience. From incorporating green building standards to enhancing disaster preparedness, technical assistance is a key lever for creating durable housing that protects vulnerable populations and contributes to long-term sustainability.

Experts will highlight how tailored technical assistance can meet different hazards, ranging from hurricanes, floods, extreme heat, and earthquakes. Emphasis will be placed on fostering collaboration across sectors—government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private industry—to ensure holistic, inclusive solutions that consider social equity and local context. They also will reflect on the ongoing challenge around securing funding for resilience needs and how best to connect this with the needs of the communities in question in an effort to be successful in their resilience journeys.

Through the case study examples shared in this panel, we aim to provide actionable insights and inspire stakeholders to leverage technical assistance in advancing resilient housing initiatives that integrate resilient, green and healthy retrofit interventions. The panel will be followed by a discussion with the audience on the gaps, challenges, and opportunities for more integrated technical, financial, and policy approaches to retrofitting existing buildings and homes.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore innovative strategies for “integrated” resilient, green, and healthy home retrofits
• Understand the role of technical assistance in housing retrofit programs
• Recognize the importance of cross-sector collaboration
• Identify practical approaches to tailoring technical assistance for local contexts