About Resilience Hubs
From recreation centers and libraries to apartment complexes and co-housing communities, resilience hubs are trusted community centers and spaces that are transformed to serve as gathering places to distribute resources, exchange information, and express community care during disasters, support community programming and climate solutions year-round.
ABOUT RESILIENCE HUBS
Resilience hubs are centered in equity, prioritize individuals and communities who are disproportionately impacted by the Climate Crisis and/or systems of oppression and support a trauma-informed response.
Collective Resilience is basing our approach designed by the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to support facilities and community members in three different modes:
Everyday
Sites can support all types of programming as well as prepare the community for future disasters.
Disruption
During disasters, hubs can serve as information centers, distribute supplies and be evacuation centers.
DEFINITIONS
Recovery
Resilience Hubs can play a critical role in post- disruption recovery and ongoing communications needs.
Emerging Hubs
Many sites are just starting to develop as hubs. They have some services and programming, and some infrastructure. They might never be developed as full-service hubs, but play an important role as part of the city’s resilience hubs network.
Full Service Hubs
Full service hubs have off-grid power, with multiple services and programming and able to fully operate as a resilience hub during emergencies.
Resilient Blocks
Neighbors working together to build resilience also play an important role. Ideally they are connected to nearby resilience hub.
Resilient Networks
Emerging hubs, full service hubs and resilient blocks can all work together to build a resilient network. They can collaborate with the local governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations to be of support to each other.
COMPONENTS of HUBS
Services & Programming
Services and relationships that build relationships, promote community preparedness, and improve residents’ health and well-being.
Garden work days | Emergency preparedness workshops | Block parties
Communications
Ensuring the ability to communicate within and outside the service area year-around and especially during disruptions and throughout recovery.
Ham radio | Listservs | Phone trees
Building & Landscapes
Strengthening the resilience of the facility to ensure that it meets operational goals in all conditions.
Earthquake Retrofits | Rain Water Catchment | Energy Efficient Upgrades
Power
Ensuring reliable backup power to the facility during a hazard while also improving the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of operations in all three operating modes.
Solar with battery backup | Mobile battery systems | Generators (though not optimal)
Operations
Ensuring personnel and processes are in place to operate the facility in all three modes.
Site Committees | Training Workshops | Conflict Resolution Workshop
TYPES OF HUBS
PLACES OF WOSHIP
Places of worship already support communities of care. Many are expanding to serve as resilience hubs by distributing food, adding off-grid power and opening their doors as cooling centers during extreme heat events.
Community Centers
Many community centers already provide essential services to vulnerable populations and offer events and activities to foster a sense of community. Many are now acting as resilience hubs by distributing food and other essential supplies during disasters.
Community Gardens
Co-housing communities in the Bay Area are enabling communities to become more resilient by providing access to fresh produce, connecting people to nature, and offering an educational platform for sustainable living practices.
Affordable Housing Complexes
Affordable housing complexes provide safe, accessible spaces for communities to gather and support one another during emergencies.
Libraries
Libraries serve as resilience hubs by offering resources, information, and shelter during emergencies, promoting community resilience.
Schools
Schools in the Bay Area are acting as resilience hubs by providing resources and support for their students and communities, such as mental health services, food pantries, and emergency financial assistance.