Issues Areas
SBP is a national disaster recovery and resilience organization dedicated to shrinking the time between disaster and recovery. We reduce community disaster risk, enhance resilience, and revolutionize the disaster recovery process by transforming the disaster sector’s systems, policies, and programs. Our mission and theory of change have a positive effect on disaster-impacted communities in the following key areas.
Climate and Sustainability
It is crucially important to fortify communities against natural disasters while protecting our planet for future generations. That's why we prioritize environmental sustainability in all of our building efforts and pioneer new development models that blend resilience and energy efficiency in a way that few organizations have accomplished before.
Education
Disasters can strike at any time, leaving communities vulnerable and without access to basic necessities. That's why SPB is dedicated to equipping homeowners with the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for and recover from the unexpected. By providing a comprehensive collection of disaster preparedness and recovery resources, SBP empowers homeowners with the tools they need to make informed decisions, build resilience, and take action to position themselves, their families, and their homes for a speedy recovery.
Health
The aftermath of a disaster can be incredibly challenging for survivors, with a lack of clarity and predictability in the recovery process leading to significant mental, emotional, and physical health challenges. These obstacles can result in a loss of hope and a downward spiral of negative consequences, such as unemployment, self-harm, inadequate living conditions, or even homelessness. It's crucial to prevent disaster survivors from reaching their breaking points by supporting them in their recovery journey.
Housing Affordability
Affordable housing is critically important in addressing poverty, income inequality, and racial disparities, as well as fostering stronger and more resilient communities. When individuals and families have access to affordable housing, they are less likely to spend large portions of their income on housing costs, enabling residents to save money for other basic needs such as food, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and emergencies. When disaster inevitably strikes, they are better equipped to recover quickly and efficiently.
Racial Equity
Disaster recovery systems within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas have failed black communities and communities of color time and time again. Understanding that cross-sector collaboration and systems-level solutions are necessary for driving long-term social impact, SBP, its volunteers, and philanthropic partners remain committed to pioneering strategic, equity-focused interventions that work to reduce barriers and create pathways to building and preserving wealth for those vulnerable to falling into generational cycles of poverty.
Upward Economic Mobility
Effective disaster recovery systems are critical for ensuring long-term upward economic mobility. By reducing community disaster risk, enhancing resilience, providing direct rebuilding support, advocating for and implementing improved disaster recovery policy, and making recovery resources and support more widely available, SBP supports disaster-impacted communities' long-term economic mobility by creating a foundation for sustainable and resilient economic development.