Climate Resilient Housing - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Barrier 5: Climate Resilient Housing

Barrier Statement

There is a lack of resources dedicated to to making homes more wildfire, heat and energy resilient and insurable (e.g. fire resistance materials, backup power/batteries). Aging housing stock, inequitable investments, weak building codes, and limited insurance and workforce capacity leave low-income and vulnerable communities unable to afford or access upgrades that make homes safe from heat, wildfire, and other climate hazards.

Filterable Database

How communities are experiencing this barrier

View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles

Insurance barriers undermine resilience and affordability: Rising climate-driven premiums and limited insurer presence in wildfire and flood zones are making coverage unaffordable or unavailable, blocking mortgages and discouraging reinvestment. Underinsured or uninsured households—including heirs without clear title—face major obstacles to rebuilding or completing resilience upgrades, underscoring the need to diversify carriers and expand equitable insurance options.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles

High upfront costs make resilience upgrades inaccessible: Wildfire hardening, cooling systems, panel upgrades, and electrification are unaffordable for low-income, underinsured, and owners of older buildings. With incentives often covering only 10–30% of expenses, most households cannot participate unless programs provide direct-install options or significantly higher cost coverage.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles

Aging, vulnerable housing stock: Much of California’s housing is 70–100+ years old, overcrowded, and in disrepair—lacking cooling, modern wiring, and basic safety features needed for heat, wildfire, earthquakes, and other climate threats. Both tenants and low-income homeowners face rising health and safety risks, while the high cost of general maintenance and required pre-retrofit repairs makes resilience upgrades financially out of reach.

Key challenge discussed in - San Francisco Bay Area, Inland Deserts

Heat-related health risks are worsening for vulnerable households: Tenants and low-income homeowners often lack cooling systems and live in areas with strong heat-island effects, making homes dangerously hot and difficult to keep cool. As extreme heat intensifies, disadvantaged communities face rising risks of heat illness and worsening air quality, with limited resources to adapt or protect household health.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Workforce gaps: lack of trained professionals in water-wise landscaping, stormwater systems, and fire-safe retrofits raises both costs and inequities

Local Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Challenge

Insurance barriers undermine resilience and affordability: Rising climate-driven premiums and limited insurer presence in wildfire and flood zones are making coverage unaffordable or unavailable, blocking mortgages and discouraging reinvestment. Underinsured or uninsured households—including heirs without clear title—face major obstacles to rebuilding or completing resilience upgrades, underscoring the need to diversify carriers and expand equitable insurance options.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles

Local Solution

Community education on fire and heat resilience: Local governments should offer clear, accessible guidance on wildfire and extreme heat risks—covering home hardening, cooling, shading, planting, and basic materials choices—and integrate this outreach into existing housing programs so residents can take practical, affordable steps to stay safe.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles

Local Solution

Launch retrofit campaigns targeting aging housing stock—focusing on cooling, electrification, and seismic upgrades in heat-vulnerable and wildfire-exposed areas. Local governments can prioritize heat-resilient improvements such as better insulation, reflective surfaces, and energy-efficient cooling systems, while packaging upgrades with no-cost or low-cost options to prevent rent pass-throughs and protect affordability.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles, Inland Deserts

State Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

State Solution

Resilience retrofit initiatives for aging stock (cooling, electrification, seismic, wildfire-hardening) with cost-containment to avoid tenant pass-throughs.

Existing Examples of Progress:

The Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program (LCI) provides state-level funding for cooling infrastructure and local engagement projects, helping localities develop proactive adaptation measures

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles, Inland Deserts

State Solution

Public education on fire/heat resilience embedded in permitting and developer orientations statewide.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution

State-funded neighborhood resilience pilots (tree canopy, cool materials, micro-parks) co-delivered with housing programs; document benefits and scale via guidance.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

Solution Spotlight

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