Seeking Industry Collaboration for Disaster Relief Housing

As natural disasters grow in frequency and intensity, the real estate industry plays a vital role in supporting communities by providing quick access to housing information. Recent hurricanes, Helene and Milton, have taken nearly 300 lives and displaced thousands.  

This map highlights regions prone to multiple natural disasters—hurricane-driven floods, wildfires that strip moisture from slopes leading to future floods, earthquakes, and the unique threat of tornadoes.

Why Industry Collaboration is Critical

• Rapid Response: Immediate access to up-to-date housing information.
  • A disaster relief data license can speed up access.
• Expanded Reach: Collaboration enables displaced people to find housing across MLS regions.
• Standardization: Implementing disaster-ready protocols and data standards will streamline efforts.

In 2022, Solid Earth launched HurricaneHomes.org to help MLSs quickly share listings for disaster victims. Now, we aim to unify efforts, enhancing support for displaced individuals and fostering better MLS collaboration during crises.

We urge industry leaders at the RESO Fall Conference to explore:

• Adopt two Disaster Data fields into Data Dictionary

1. 1. Disaster Relief Available (Y/N)
   2. Disaster Relief Remarks

• New License Type: RESO Data for Good License
• MLS opt-in: Preparing ahead to participant in disaster relief website

TO GET INVOLVED: Please opt in through the fill form below 

With a consolidated effort, MLSs and Associations can be better equipped for rapid deployment of housing resources for any United States natural disaster. 

What is next:

Expanding and rebranding the HurricaneHomes.org website to DisasterHousingHelp.org.

Participant Credo

We are committed to proactive collaboration, ensuring that we are prepared before disaster strikes. Harnessing the power of technology and data, we aim to deliver timely, essential support to individuals displaced by weather-related catastrophes.

Our shared mission is to provide immediate access to residential leases and rental properties available through the MLS during times of crisis. 

To achieve this, we commit to:

1. Preparedness: Secure upfront data license agreements with MLSs to ensure residential leases and rental listings are available when disaster strikes.
2. Responsiveness: Partner with MLSs, Associations, and real estate professionals to act with urgency and compassion to provide fast housing solutions during crises.
3. Data Integrity: Participant data will only be used to assist families in need. We will never scrape, sell, or misuse the data provided by participants.
4. Acts of Service: The Realtor Relief Foundation will get every dollar into the hands of those in need, https://rrf.realtor.

Together, we can use DisasterHousingHelp.org to provide not just data, but hope, security, and a path to recovery.

For more information and to get your MLS involved in these proactive efforts, please contact us at info@solidearth.com or fill in your contact information below.