Equitable Resilience Assistance – Financial incentives that support resilience should be tailored to be accessible for all Americans, regardless of financial means. In considering public investment in affordable housing and other programs that support low-income communities, Congress should include funding for resilience to natural disasters. Public funding for affordable housing at all levels of government should always require resilient construction so these structures can withstand severe weather.
Supporting ALL Communities Post-Disaster – Federal programs supporting community resilience—such as Stafford Act funding from FEMA—should do more to assist communities of color and low-income communities. While all communities should have a financial stake in responding to natural disasters, FEMA should have the flexibility to alter the cost-share for needs-based subsidies so large-scale resilience projects are not limited to just the wealthiest communities that can afford a 25 percent cost-share.