Enterprise Community Partners and IBTS Partner on Affordable Housing Climate Resilience

February 7, 2022

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Ashburn, VA–The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) recently hosted representatives from Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) during its December 2021 Board of Directors meeting to share details of two of Enterprise’s programs, Keep Safe Miami and Resilience Academy. The programs have developed critical strategies and resources to help affordable housing owners improve the resilience of their properties to climate change and natural disaster risks. IBTS has been providing Enterprise with technical assistance on both programs over the past year.


The programs were presented by Enterprise’s Sara Haas, Southeast Market Director, and Laurie Schoeman, National Director for Climate Risk Reduction and Resilience.


“Climate change poses a significant risk to affordable housing, threatening our most vulnerable populations,” explained Haas. “We are working hard to give affordable housing owners the resources they need to understand, prioritize, and finance implementation strategies, thereby protecting their occupants and preserving their investments.”


Enterprise’s work to increase housing supply, advance racial equity, and build resilience and upward mobility is well aligned with IBTS’ focus on strengthening communities through its role as a trusted advisor to governments at all levels. The two nonprofit organizations share a common goal in making climate risks—such as flooding, extreme wind, extreme heat—better understood and more readily mitigated.


During the presentation, Haas and Schoeman provided an overview of how the programs provide technical assistance to affordable housing stakeholders, from conducting assessments, to developing mitigation strategies, to identifying funding and financing.


“We know how critical it is for owners to address resilience in their affordable housing portfolios, and yet understanding what to do and how to do it can be incredibly challenging,” said Schoeman. “Both Keep Safe Miami and Resilience Academy equip owners with the knowledge and tools they need, giving them a roadmap for resilience.”


In 2022, Enterprise will use results from the Keep Safe Miami and Resilience Academy programs to benefit other communities across the country. The Keep Safe program will extend to Orlando, Tampa, and the broader Miami MSA. Resilience Academy will build on last year’s pilot in the Southeast to focus on the Gulf Coast.


Schoeman and Haas emphasized how the success of the programs would not have been possible without the remarkable mix of partners and participants that share their commitment to preserving affordable housing. In addition to IBTS, Enterprise’s collaborating partners include the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Fannie Mae, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Urban Land Institute, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the City of Miami, Miami Dade County, the Florida Housing Coalition, Miami Beach Rising Above, Habitat for Humanity, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Regions Bank, City National Bank, and Communities United.


Both programs are of considerable interest to IBTS leadership. IBTS’ Board of Directors includes representatives from five national associations representing state and local governments, including the Council of State Governments (CSG), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Governor’s Association (NGA), and the National League of Cities. Reducing climate risks and ensuring equitable housing are both of critical importance to the members of these organizations, as well as for the Board’s efforts to guide IBTS’ work in assisting governments with equitable climate resilience, federal funding management, and disaster and resilience planning.


“Addressing climate resilience and protecting vulnerable populations through safe and secure housing are both critical issues for state and local governments,” said Chris Fennell, IBTS’ Chief Development Officer. “IBTS is proud to be assisting Enterprise in developing solutions that strengthen governments’ ability to navigate these issues, while engaging stakeholders from the private and nonprofit sectors to ensure their success. We’re excited to see both the Keep Safe and Resilience Academy programs grow over the coming months and years.”



About IBTS

IBTS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities as a trusted partner to local, state, and federal governments. IBTS is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, with branch offices across the country. IBTS’s work is guided by a Board of Directors comprised of government officials appointed by five of the most highly respected, grassroots, state and local governmental associations, including the Council of State Governments (CSG), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), National Association of Counties (NACo), National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), and National League of Cities (NLC).

What does it take to deliver resilient housing at scale in the Caribbean? Hint: It's not just funds

September 28, 2026
MIAMI, FL— What does it take to deliver resilient housing at scale in the Caribbean? That question was at the center of a panel featuring James Turner, IBTS Director of Federal Programs, during the 10th Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) in Miami. The event brought together government officials, developers, investors, infrastructure leaders, utilities, development finance organizations, and public-sector decision makers from more than 30 Caribbean nations and territories to discuss the region's infrastructure priorities and investment needs. James was featured on stage for the "Delivering Affordable and Resilient Housing in the Caribbean" panel discussion, alongside Bermuda housing leader Jeane Nikolai and Caribbean business executive André C. Walcott. The discussion focused on a challenge shared across the region: how to provide safe, affordable housing while strengthening communities against hurricanes, flooding, and other natural hazards. Drawing on IBTS' 5-decade-long experience supporting the US Department of Housing (HUD), as well as our experience in FEMA-funded housing and recovery programs, James emphasized that resilient housing is about much more than construction. Successful programs depend on strong building codes, qualified workers, reliable materials, effective quality assurance, and the systems needed to move projects from funding to implementation. Fellow panelists also shared their interesting perspectives based on their experiences. Jeane Nikolai stressed that homes must be built to withstand the region's climate conditions and backed by dependable warranty terms, noting that a lack of such options can narrow the housing choices available. Resilient construction, she emphasized, is essential to protecting both the homes themselves and the people who live in them. André C. Walcott underscored the importance of consistent building standards to ensure quality construction, along with the need for qualified, well-trained personnel and approved building materials, all of which contribute to safer, better-performing homes. The discussion and audience questions made one point clear: housing shortages are a shared challenge across countries, but the obstacles to meeting housing goals vary from place to place. Funding is a significant concern, but it is not the only driving factor in every case. The conversation reinforced why organizations such as IBTS are needed. Across the Caribbean, governments are investing in housing, infrastructure, and resilience, but many face common implementation challenges, including regulatory requirements, workforce shortages, compliance oversight, and program delivery. IBTS helps bridge those gaps via program management, building code compliance, quality assurance, inspections, resilience planning, and related technical services. Beyond the panel discussion, CARIF provided an opportunity for IBTS to engage directly with government representatives, infrastructure agencies, development institutions, utilities, developers, and private-sector partners working throughout the Caribbean. These conversations highlighted a growing focus on turning funding and policy commitments into real-world projects that strengthen communities and improve long-term resilience. Reflecting on the experience, James noted: "I was honored to participate in discussions with a group of solution-oriented leaders and professionals addressing the critical needs of the Caribbean. I look forward to continuing these important conversations and turning the concepts into actionable implementations." For IBTS, the message from CARIF was clear: resilient housing requires collaboration, practical implementation, and a commitment to quality at every stage. As Caribbean nations continue investing in their future, IBTS remains committed to helping communities transform plans, funding, and policy goals into lasting results. About James Turner: Mr. Turner provides nearly 20 years of professional experience, which includes significant knowledge and experience with manufactured housing standards and regulations. His experience includes technical and regulatory projects, design evaluations, performance assessment, conformity assessment, and technical regulatory research and analysis. About IBTS: With a mission to strengthen communities, IBTS serves as a trusted advisor and partner to local, state, and federal governments in advancing economic development. Its services ensure the effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of renewable energy projects and federally funded energy and sustainability programs—optimizing performance, reducing risk, and promoting the efficient use of public funds. Beyond its expertise in solar quality assurance, IBTS’s Puerto Rico office provides services in federal fund management; disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery; municipal planning; and resilience strategies. As a nonprofit organization, IBTS is guided by a Board of Directors with representatives from the Council of State Governments (CSG) , International City/County Management Association (ICMA) , National Association of Counties (NACo) , National Governors Association (NGA) , and the National League of Cities (NLC) . For more information, visit www.ibts.org .

Building the Future of Housing in the US Virgin Islands

September 18, 2026
IBTS supports regional collaboration on affordable resilient and code complaint housing

IBTS Exceeds Weatherization Goal, Upgrades 103 Puerto Rico Homes

July 21, 2026
The Institute for Building Technology and Safety has completed energy-efficiency, health and safety improvements in 103 Puerto Rico homes through a federally financed weatherization program, exceeding its goal of 100 households in about six weeks. The nonprofit organization, known as IBTS, managed operations and coordinated the latest phase of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce’s Energy Public Policy Program. Weatherization programs are intended to reduce household energy costs by making homes more efficient while addressing conditions that can affect residents’ health and safety. The Puerto Rico initiative prioritized low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities, according to IBTS. The organization did not specify the individual improvements made in each home but said the work was intended to increase comfort, improve living conditions and strengthen resilience. IBTS handled project management, inspections, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, document control and staff training, the organization said. The project also reported a 98% satisfaction rate among participants. “This program demonstrates what is possible when federal resources are translated into practical, measurable improvements for families and communities,” said Agnes Crespo-Quintana, IBTS’s Caribbean regional director. Alvin Miranda-Colón, manager of the Weatherization Assistance Program, said the initiative was intended to make energy more affordable while supporting sustainability and community resilience. IBTS said the project required coordination among government officials, contractors, auditors, inspectors, technology providers and participating communities. The organization said that work also developed procedures, trained personnel and expanded institutional capacity that could be used in future federally financed energy, housing and infrastructure programs. Judelly Hernández-Morales, the IBTS project manager, said cooperation between the public and private sectors helped translate federal funding into improvements for participating households.