BLACK EMERGENCY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

Friday, March 6, 2026

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was ousted

https://www.pbs.org › newshour › show › trump-fires-n...

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was ousted in the first Cabinet shakeup of President Tr***p's second term.

Whistleblower warns ICE has slashed training for recruits Feb 26, 2026 6:30 PM EST

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whistleblower-warns-ice-has-slashed-training-for-recruits

Whistleblower warns ICE has slashed training for recruits

Feb 26, 2026 6:30 PM EST

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Join the Adaptive Reuse Initiative | 1,000,000 Homes in 10 Years

Save the Date

March 4th - Lobby Advocacy Day Orientation. To prepare for the big day, we will host a virtual orientation via Zoom at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Link: https://bit.ly/4r4uz7r

March 18th - Join us for Lobby Advocacy Day in support of the State Adaptive Reuse and Sweat Equity Housing Act. Together, we will urge state representatives to recognize adaptive reuse as a vital housing solution and a critical step toward our shared mission of ending homelessness.

Endorse the Adaptive Reuse Initiative

Across the country, buildings sit empty while people sleep without a safe place to call home. This disconnect is not a failure of resources, but of priorities.

The Bring America Home NOW campaign is activating a national Adaptive Reuse Initiative to turn what already exists into what is urgently needed: safe, dignified housing with supportive services.

We are calling for the creation of 1,000,000 units of adaptive reuse housing over the next 10 years. By transforming vacant and underused buildings, we can move faster, lower costs, and deliver real housing solutions to people who cannot afford to wait.

We invite communities across the country to stand with us and sign on in support of this initiative, advancing adaptive reuse as a housing-first solution rooted in dignity, efficiency, and care.

What is Adaptive Reuse? Adaptive reuse reimagines existing buildings for new purposes while preserving their structure and character. It is about possibility, not demolition.

A vacant hotel becomes permanent supportive housing. An old warehouse becomes apartments. A former school or office building becomes a community space. In the fight to end homelessness, adaptive reuse is powerful because it creates housing faster and at lower cost than new construction, while strengthening communities rather than displacing them.

Our Core Demand: States must invest in and remove barriers to converting vacant and underused buildings into housing at scale. We call for the creation of 1,000,000 units of adaptive reuse housing by 2032, with leadership from people who have lived experience of homelessness guiding every step of this work.

Endorse the Campaign

By signing on, your organization takes a stand for what is possible. You commit to helping create 1,000,000 units of adaptive reuse housing by 2032 and to advancing solutions that meet people where they are, with dignity and urgency.

Now is the time to act. Whether you are a housing provider, advocate, architect, community leader, or concerned organization, your voice and leadership matter. There is a role for you in this movement.

Join us in advancing real solutions, honoring lived experience, and meeting this crisis with the urgency it deserves.

Together, we can secure Housing NOW.

Adaptive Reuse Initiatives. A Global Perspective. Even more innovative usages, Food Security. February 2026

Additional Options in your local commuity

Repurposed structures combined with

· Housing,

· Business opportunities

Participants to learn CYCLE from *Seed to * Preparation, *to Table, to *Waste Management

Job Opportunities

o Vertical farming in Rural and Urban areas

Food security

Hydroponic farming. hydroponic crops are fast-growing, high-demand, and space-efficient, with top performers including lettuce, basil, strawberries, microgreens, and leafy herbs like cilantro.

Aquaponic farming. aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics, often focusing on high-value, fast-growing crops like basil, arugula, and leafy greens to generate income. While fish, particularly Tilapia, provide essential nutrients, the plant portion is generally the primary profit driver. Success requires targeting premium,

Water Security

Adaptive Reuse Initiatives

Adaptive reuse initiatives involve repurposing existing, often obsolete or historic, buildings for new, functional uses—such as converting commercial properties into residential, office, or mixed-use spaces—to reduce carbon emissions, lower construction costs, and revitalize communities. These projects offer sustainability benefits, including reduced demolition waste and lower embodied carbon, while preserving local heritage.

Key Aspects of Adaptive Reuse Initiatives

Environmental Impact: Adaptive reuse projects can cost 16% less and take 18% less time than new construction, while significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with demolition and new building materials.
Key Drivers: Initiatives are often driven by the need for affordable housing, declining demand for traditional office space, and the desire to redevelop abandoned or underutilized structures.
Federal/Local Incentives: In 2023, the U.S. federal government announced initiatives, including HUD and DOT funding, to facilitate converting commercial buildings into residential units. Local governments may offer tax incentives and streamlined permitting for such projects.
Common Conversions: Examples include transforming old warehouses into loft apartments, schools into community centers, or religious buildings into office spaces.

Benefits to Communities

Sustainability: Promotes a circular economy by reusing existing, energy-intensive materials.
Economic Growth: Increases local tax revenue and creates jobs by bringing new life to abandoned areas.
Cultural Preservation: Maintains the character and historical narrative of a neighborhood.