News & Press

On June 24, 2026, a double earthquake — magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 — struck west-central Venezuela within 39 seconds, killing 589 people and injuring nearly 3,000. With 77% of homes built informally, the destruction runs deep.

Recovery is a chance to rebuild safer — and you can be part of it.

When a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao on June 8, 2026, nearly 59,000 homes and over 6,200 schools were damaged — but much of it didn’t have to happen. Build Change estimates up to 75% of those homes can be repaired and strengthened, and our work in the Philippines proves it: with the right technical support and affordable financing, safer housing is within reach for every family.

For the first half of 2026, one thing became undeniable: safe housing is no longer a side conversation — it’s at the center of the global climate and development agenda. From WUF13 to CBA20, Build Change has been in the room pushing for a critical shift: investing not just in building new homes, but in strengthening the billions of existing ones where vulnerable families already live. Recognition is growing. Now comes the hard part — turning it into action.

Build Change provides technical assistance to community-based organizations (CBOs), enabling them to integrate housing and climate justice principles into national programs. This community-driven approach builds capacity through genuine co-production, shifting knowledge and resources directly to marginalized groups. Ultimately, technical assistance delivers not only a house but also the capacity to continue home improvements in the future, helping to reduce the housing deficit globally.

In partnership with KOMIDA and with support from the Global Innovation Fund, Build Change is piloting low-cost, climate-resilient home upgrades for 2,000 women living on less than $5/day. Through tailored solutions and new microfinance tools, this initiative is making heat adaptation accessible for low-income households across Indonesia.

Turner & Townsend’s international Making the Difference Fund is partnering with Build Change to support disaster-resilient housing worldwide. As the fund celebrates over £1 million in donations, this collaboration marks a step toward empowering communities through safer living conditions and long-term resilience.

Build Change has promoted four key leaders: Noll Tufani, Monica Schroeder, Liva Shrestha, and Joel Herold, into expanded roles to strengthen its global reach and advance its mission of creating resilient housing. These strategic promotions reflect the organization’s commitment to empowering families in vulnerable housing and scaling its life-saving work across the world’s most disaster-prone regions.

The global housing crisis is a disaster – and it’s unjust. Ariana Karamallis argues for radical change that shifts power to the majority: the people who are affected.

Build Change, a global leader in disaster-resilient housing, is pleased to announce two key leadership appointments to its Board of Directors following its meeting on December 13, 2024. Grace Hanson, Co-Founder and CEO of Elysian, has been appointed Chair of the Board. She is a past board chair and has served on Build Change’s board since 2016. Susie Berg has been appointed to the role of Secretary.

2024 Grants include funding for Build Change to advance disaster-resilient housing solutions through AI-driven technical assistance.