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Solar Batteries Helping Houston’s
Most Vulnerable Communities
Houstonians are no strangers to power outages caused by extreme weather. From Winter Storm Uri in 2021 to the recent impact of Hurricane Beryl, our region has experienced firsthand the critical importance of access to electricity during a crisis. While some residents have the means to prepare for and recover from a disaster, low-income communities often lack access to affordable and practical options. As a result, they tend to experience more severe impacts from disasters and longer, often incomplete, recoveries.
That’s where Greater Houston Disaster Alliance steps in, working year-round to help build resilience and reduce harm caused by disasters to our most vulnerable residents.
What is the Disaster Alliance?
In 2023, Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston formally established a philanthropic partnership, Greater Houston Disaster Alliance (Disaster Alliance), to accelerate recovery in times of disaster. With over 35 years of combined experience in disaster response, the Disaster Alliance aims to lead the philanthropic recovery effort, bolster year-round preparedness, and ensure that our region has the networks and systems in place to respond rapidly and effectively in times of disaster.
Building Resiliency
One promising innovation that emerged before the formal launch of the Disaster Alliance was the establishment of solar-powered battery lending libraries. This early pilot initiative helped the Community Foundation and United Way understand how to grow their partnership in building resiliency. The initiative explored lending small solar-powered batteries that can power a variety of small appliances, such as cell phones, fans, and lamps, for several hours without needing to be recharged. Depending on usage, a fully charged battery can operate for up to 45 hours, which can be lifesaving, especially for medically fragile residents in a crisis. The batteries can be recharged with solar panels to ensure continued use of critical appliances.
In 2021, Powered for Good, developed by Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), was launched as a pilot initiative to test the potential of battery lending libraries in Harris County. Powered for Good created a system to distribute solar-powered Generark Home Power batteries through trusted community-based organizations. HARC tested the batteries and developed training materials to ensure residents could use, maintain, and store them safely. HARC connected with the Community Foundation and United Way to identify nonprofits with deep community connections and solid plans for distributing these batteries during widespread power outages, and they also serve individuals on a case-by-case basis to ensure those most in need receive support.
The first phase of the pilot was funded through the Winter Storm Recovery Fund and distributed 65 batteries to The Women’s Home and 35 batteries to West Street Recovery. With the success of the initial program and growing demand, an additional 250 batteries were allocated in 2024—45 more to The Women’s Home, 200 more to West Street Recovery, and five to the Houston Community ToolBank.
Alice Liu, Co-Director of Communications, Organizing, and Disaster Preparedness at West Street Recovery, added, “These batteries foster both physical and psychological resilience. Community members with a battery feel—and are—more prepared ahead of storms. When severe weather is in the forecast, residents know to recharge their batteries to full and ensure everything is functioning. The batteries can be recharged via a wall outlet, in a car, or with the solar panel, giving residents multiple backup options and a greater sense of independence and security during emergencies. Having a battery allows residents to keep their communication devices charged, to power essential medical devices, and run select household appliances.”
Meet the Frontline Partners
Houston Community ToolBank is an equipment, tool, and resource lending library for community-based organizations in our region. The ToolBank aims to build capacity in the nonprofit sector by reducing resource-related costs so nonprofits can direct their funding toward mission-focused activities and not toward renting equipment. Over the years, the ToolBank has grown significantly in response to disasters encouraging nonprofits to “check out” their equipment ahead of severe weather.
The Women’s Home strengthens women and supports families as they reclaim their stability, with permanent housing sites across Houston. It has strong relationships with residents, creating a client base that can access batteries when needed—whether during storms or when unable to pay their electric bills—ensuring energy access for those who need it most.
West Street Recovery is a community resilience organization that aims to help neighbors rebuild stronger in the aftermath of disasters. Their innovative “Hub House” model transforms neighborhood homes into community distribution centers, providing emergency resources and evacuation assistance during disasters or power outages. Each Hub House is led by a resident ‘block captain,’ who coordinates communications, manages the distribution of emergency resources, and is positioned to deploy solar batteries swiftly to neighbors with urgent needs.
Alice Liu also shared, “In the aftermath of a disaster, mobility and transportation can limit the ability to distribute supplies. To counteract this, we try to stage the batteries year-round as close to where they will be needed as possible.” At West Street Recovery, priority for distributing hub batteries goes to households with children under four, a member who relies on medical equipment, or a member over 65, ensuring that their more vulnerable neighbors receive support first. West Street Recovery also encourages community members to lend their batteries to neighbors, friends, or family members who have not had their power restored, as different streets may get power back at various times.
The Women’s Home and West Street Recovery operate the program through a trust-based model, with deep knowledge of who their most vulnerable neighbors are and how to quickly get them the right resources. Bethany Fields, Vice President of Grants and Evaluation at The Women’s Home, shared, “Our trust-based approach centers the dignity, voice, and lived experience of each resident. When deploying batteries through the Powered for Good initiative, we prioritize listening over prescribing. Rather than making assumptions about need, we engage residents directly in conversations about how backup power can support their safety, independence, and well-being.” Because the battery lending system operates outside of traditional disaster response timelines, it supports ongoing resilience, not just emergency relief.
If you are looking to make a difference in the region and would like to learn more about the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, call us at 713-903-3270 or reach out directly to get started. Together, we can build a resilient future for all.
