Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Life’s WORC staff celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary. Today, we are featuring Life’s WORC, a Garden City, NY nonprofit that supports people with intellectual challenges, developmental disabilities, and autism. The organization is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year: 50 years of providing services that facilitate an independent and productive life experience for their constituents. “Over fifty years ago, Victoria Schneps Yunis created Life’s WORC after Geraldo Rivera exposed the deplorable care and conditions at a place called Willowbrook,” said Tina Moreno, director of development for the nonprofit. “Geraldo and Vicki are still dedicated to ensuring that individuals live healthy and productive lives.” The scandalous story of how patients – from children to seniors – were treated at Willowbrook horrified the nation when it was exposed in the early 1970s. “This institution in 1972 was a crime against humanity. Those aren’t just words, they accurately represent the reality of Willowbrook,” Rivera says in his original report on the atrocious conditions at the state facility. Life’s WORC was created to offer an alternative reality that was safe, healthy, clean, and supportive. Today, six of the original residents of the Life’s WORC Rivera home in Little Neck Queens continue to enjoy their home and a healthy lifestyle.  “Vicki, along with Geraldo and now-NYC Mayor Eric Adams, paid a visit to the home to celebrate our 50 years of achievements,” said Moreno. “Life’s WORC is proud of our achievements over the last 50 years and will continue the important work begun by Vicki Schneps Yunis. We strive to constantly evolve and adapt our programs to better serve the people we support. We look forward to the next 50 years of making a difference in the lives of even more people with special needs and their loved ones.” The organization has also recently been awarded an RFP to provide five additional supportive homes for the state’s growing autistic population. “That brings us to 50 homes over 50 years,” Moreno said. “In addition, this year we will be launching a brand-new program and building called WORC FORCE, a multi-purpose community-based center that helps those with disabilities and learning challenges master in demand skills for the workplace and beyond.  Our mission is to build confidence and find purpose.” “The funds received from Yardi will be used to assist the individuals we support by enhancing their ability to access these programs,” Moreno explained. “We have purchased technology equipment to ensure connectivity for those individuals that were unable to attend in-person programs. We have also created new online classes for our program participants so that they can increase their skills.” Opportunities to volunteer Life’s WORC welcomes volunteers to assist with our special events throughout the year. On September 18, the organization will hold a Walk for WORC FORC and invites Yardi staff to contribute as participants and to assist with the event. Additionally, Life’s WORC participates in Bike to the Beach on September 24. Participants will ride 100, 50 or 25 miles for disabilities and autism. For more information on participation, contact Tina Moreno by email at [email protected] Learn more about Life’s WORC at https://lifesworc.org/, and find future non-profit profiles at...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, get to know Camp Twin Lakes, a Georgia-based organization that addresses the need for youth development and wellness opportunities for children with special healthcare needs and life challenges. “We work with more than 60 other nonprofits each year to build programs that engage campers in hands-on, nature-based programs to improve their well-being, self-esteem, sense of belonging to a community, and confidence in their skills and abilities,” says Anna Hutchins, Director of Grants & Outcomes Measurement for the organization. The 2022 summer camp season begins in-person on May 28. “All of our activities are fully adaptive and medically supported. That means that kids of all mobility levels, and their families, can sail down the zip line, scale the rock wall, ride bikes, and get in the pool. We are also able to take care of our campers’ medical needs onsite, including chemo and dialysis.” Expanding to fill growing needs Twin Lakes began operations in 1991 and held its first summer programs in 1993. Its two current campuses are in Rutledge and Winder, Georgia. “Our current partners and larger community have been expressing the need for more – more programs, more family weekends, more child-only summer camps,” explained Hutchins. “To meet this need, we are building a third, year-round campus on additional land in Rutledge that will allow us to serve 3,500 more campers every year, including kids with Down Syndrome, pancreatitis, skin diseases, and mental health diagnoses.” The new campus is expected to open in early 2023, and Camp Twin Lakes expect to serve more than 12,000 campers next year across all three locations. Yardi has been a community partner with Camp Twin Lakes for more than fifteen years. “Yardi supported us through the pandemic, making therapeutic, educational, and recreational programs possible for hundreds of kids during a really difficult time. And with our new campus opening next year, your support will bring the joy of Camp to even more campers,” shared Hutchins. Camp Twin Lakes offers a donor-funded Camper Scholarship Program. It funds program supplies, onsite medical support, accessible onsite housing, and meals meeting specific dietary needs. Providing this support relieves the financial burden from camper families, making the transformative experience of Camp possible for thousands of kids every year. A sense of fitting in We asked Hutchins to share one the story of a camper who was positively impacted by their experience at Camp Twin Lakes. She shared Morgan’s story with us. “Morgan has Apert Syndrome, which affects facial features and limbs. Morgan shared that people often stare at her because she looks different, but Camp is different,” said Hutchins. “No one stares at me,” said Morgan of what it is like for youth attending Camp Twin Lakes. “No one treats me like I am a kid with Aperts, or a kid who was born without fingers and toes, or who cannot lift her arms above her head. Camp is a place where kids who are extraordinary can just be ordinary. It is my favorite place in the entire world. I wish the world were just like it – understanding, patient, caring, and fun.” After first attending camp at age 11, Morgan is now a volunteer counselor for the organization during the summer. As a counselor, Morgan says her goal is to “tell my campers that it is OK to be different. People are going to stare or wonder why you are doing something a certain way, but it is uniquely your way.” Opportunities for Yardi employees to volunteer There are many ways for Georgia...

Calling all senior living operators: are you requiring renters insurance in your communities? And not just any renters insurance — trustworthy, comprehensive packages that give residents great coverage at an affordable price. And of course, packages that protect your communities under a broad range of circumstances. You may already know the importance of requiring renters insurance, but perhaps you haven’t made the switch to an all-inclusive solution. Or maybe you’re still weighing the benefits of steering your communities in that direction.   Either way, we have some exciting news to share. Thanks to the dedication of team Yardi, ResidentShield — a proven risk management solution — is now available for senior living. Whether you’re an existing Yardi client or someone new to our single connected solution, we’re eager to show you how ResidentShield can protect your communities, boost resident satisfaction and more. So if you’re still unsure how something like ResidentShield can work for you, just keep reading. Introducing ResidentShield for senior living What exactly is ResidentShield? At baseline, ResidentShield offers reliable risk management plans that provide coverage to residents and protect owner assets from resident-caused loss. You can say farewell to out-of-pocket expenses and time-consuming insurance claims. With ResidentShield, the heavy lifting is done for you, and you, your community, its owners and all residents reap some pretty fantastic benefits. How it works ResidentShield offers flexible combinations to meet your needs. Whichever route you take with this integrated solution, residents access simplified renters insurance — and your communities receive maximum protection. ResidentShield enables: Comprehensive protection — safeguard your assets with ResidentShield Master Policy Program, backed by the most experienced underwriters in the industry.Reliable coverage — reach and maintain 100% compliance via ResidentShield Protection Plan, with automated tracking built into Voyager Senior Housing.Satisfied residents — provide a quick and easy claims service through ResidentShield renters insurance. No residents are denied coverage. Eligible operators can even earn revenue for assisting with program implementation and administration. That means you can cover your communities and keep residents happy, all while improving your bottom line. Benefits for senior enrollees When you choose ResidentShield, senior enrollees can:   Tap into an electronic protection programAccess discounts up to 20%Receive thorough coverageGet timely estimates for valuable assets Contact us ResidentShield is now part of the Yardi Senior Living Suite for senior living providers. Ready to learn more? We invite you to read our ResidentShield brochure. To get in touch with our team about ResidentShield, simply fill out this form. We look forward to...

“My journey with Yardi has been exceptional – it exceeds the experiences I have had with other corporations I have worked with in the past. The difference here is that I have really felt nurtured by my work, the journey, the company, and the people,” says Chenetta Watson, technical account manager on Yardi Atlanta’s Affordable Client Success GA 1 Team.  Chenetta Watson Chenetta is an expert in epic journeys and has made international travel a top priority in her life. She recently visited Argentina and Antarctica, a bucket list trip that proved that bravery pays off. Read on to hear more about the trip and see some of her amazing photos. A Yardi journey Chenetta joined Yardi in 2018 after completing her Master of International Business from Georgia State University shortly after earning her Bachelor of Communication from Purdue University – West Lafayette. “Before joining Yardi, I did not know how much the technology industry had to offer nor was it something I thought I could do. With prior experience working as an end user of Voyager while working in Student Housing, Yardi turned out to be a perfect fit,” she recalled. She started her Yardi journey on PHA’s RENTCafe PHA Implementation team, then transitioned to PHA Voyager Implementations. “On PHA, I learned a solid set of foundational skills that have allowed me to find new ways to tackle tough problems, to be led by great leaders, and opportunities to transfer knowledge to my peers.” Currently, she is on the Affordable Client Success GA 1 team where she has been provided with the ability to transition from a role that was process oriented to a role where you must meet the problem where it is within the software. On the Affordable team, she has expanded her knowledge base by working more closely with Voyager accounting cases, strengthened her knowledge of federal housing compliance types that exist within Voyager such as HUD 50059, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and many others. “What is very special about Yardi is the depth of leadership, opportunities to learn and grow with others, and a wealth of women who make intentional efforts to learn with you, encourage you to think beyond what you are and more of what you could be. In business, it is not often that you have a reservoir of women to tap into for learning and development in the business and technology arena, but also women who have served the company for over 20 years. This is a sign of a true and genuine workplace and has helped me to see myself working here long term,” Chenetta observed. Chenetta described herself as someone who loves a good mission, strong culture, and challenges that will take her professional growth to the next level. Since day one, the Yardi motto “Take care of our clients, take care of our employees, take care of our communities, stay focused and grow” has been a mantra she works by. Her membership on Yardi Atlanta’s non-profit committee drives the mission home. “With the changing global, national, and local landscapes constantly changing around us –and not always in a positive way, it helps to know that my company cares and I play an active role in contributing to the betterment of the world around and beyond me. As meaningful as it is to receive equitable pay and working in a positive work environment, it is as important to me that I work with a sense of purpose for a company who is morally fit.” A global journey While studying at Purdue University, she developed a love for traveling and has so far visited Antarctica, Argentina, Brazil, China, Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom – more countries than the average person gets to visit in a lifetime. She considers this to be a great privilege and takes the lessons learned from each culture and tries to implement...

73 percent of employees at Commonwealth Senior Living say it’s a great place to work compared to 57 percent of employees at a typical U.S.-based company. That’s according to a survey made possible by Great Place To Work, and it’s exactly why this senior living provider earned a place on the 2022 Great Place To Work list. Great Place To Work makes it easy to survey employees, uncover actionable insights and get recognized for exceptional company culture. Across industries, earning a place on the list means employees report a positive work experience — and a true appreciation for their employer and company as a whole. From our team here at Yardi, congratulations to Commonwealth Senior Living for earning a place on the 2022 list! Commonwealth named 2022 Great Place To Work Creating an environment in which employees feel respected and empowered is no easy task. And when it comes to senior living, employers need to treat employees in a way that positions them — and empowers them — to provide excellent resident care. Earning a spot on the 2022 Great Place To Work list, Commonwealth embodies what it means to maintain a great workplace. Drawing from the administered survey, Commonwealth employees reported the following: 89 percent feel their work has special meaning: this is not “just a job”84 percent feel they make a difference at the company82 percent feel a sense of pride when looking at what the company accomplishes82 percent say when you join the company, you’re made to feel welcome80 percent feel people at the company are given a sense of responsibility Great Place To Work also draws top words from employee comments within the survey, which included things like love, care, team and family for Commonwealth. Read more about what makes Commonwealth employees love what they do. Learn about Commonwealth Senior Living Flipping the organizational chart upside down, Commonwealth firmly believes that all home office and regional management positions exist to support the services that are being provided at their communities. Ultimately, the people who are providing the care to residents are the most important asset to the company. Commonwealth has roughly 1,722 employees based throughout the U.S and offers services in independent living, assisted living and memory care. Explore what makes Commonwealth different. This provider’s success with Yardi In order to serve residents with excellence and provide the best care possible, Commonwealth draws help from the Yardi Senior Living Suite. From RentCafe Senior CRM, to Yardi EHR to Yardi eMAR, Yardi’s integrated tools give Commonwealth employees everything needed to devote their efforts to improving residents’ lives. Learn about Yardi’s single connected solution for senior living. We couldn’t be happier to share Commonwealth’s Great Place To Work certification — and congratulate them for their amazing company culture. Be sure to read more about Commonwealth and their efforts in senior...

Real estate investors are gung-ho on multifamily – so much so that last year they were willing to pay more for it than ever before, especially in certain circumstances. Whether that trend continues or a bubble burst is on the horizon is the focus of a new Multifamily Trading Bulletin from Yardi Matrix. Record-high property sales and prices were recorded in 2021. Yardi Matrix tracked $215 billion of multifamily property sales in the U.S. in 2021 that traded for an average of $192,105 per unit, a year-over-year increase of 21.6 percent. The new bulletin analyzes repeat sales over the last decade in Matrix’s database of 83,000 properties. Among those, 4,500 multifamily properties in the US — about 5.3 percent – sold at least three times over the last decade. The average compound annual growth rate for the repeat-sale properties averaged 17.7 percent nationally. Analysts found that rents rose rapidly during the 10-year cycle, but not as much as price appreciation. Multifamily rent growth in 2021 was up 14 percent for the year, a record, but rent growth has been above the long-term average for over five years (except for during COVID-19 lockdowns). “The rapid growth in pricing reflects a combination of factors: the exceptional amount of liquidity in real estate and multifamily, the extremely strong rent growth, the low cost of financing as interest rates bottomed and debt costs were near historical lows, and the optimism about the sector’s prospects in the next few years,” says Paul Fiorilla, director of research for Yardi Matrix, who authored the bulletin. Deal flow roared back in 2021 to a record $215.3 billion, a 67.3 percent increase from the prior high point in 2019. 2021 also set new records with 6,488 properties sold and 1.34 million units traded. “The extraordinary increase in pricing likely to be threatened going forward by the increase in interest rates and questions about the economy, which has already prompted a slowdown in investment activity and will likely end the period of appreciation growth,” Fiorilla stated. What sort of assets are driving these increases? Investors know what they like, and that includes smaller assets in secondary markets geared toward working-class renters. They are considered to have rent-growth potential due to relatively low rents and location in markets with above-trend rent growth. They will also pay a premium for strategically located value-add properties. The most popular regions include secondary markets and areas with strong in-migration, particularly Texas, the Southeast and Southwest, where demand and rent growth is growing faster than the rest of the nation. Relatively few properties in gateway markets made the list of repeat sales. Yardi Matrix tracks properties in 162 markets with 50 or more units. Gain more insights from the new Multifamily Trading Bulletin from Yardi...

Remember Changemakers — the annual series recognizing pioneers in senior living? It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the innovation, drive and commitment circling the industry, and honor the leaders behind it all. We’re pleased to announce the 2022 series has officially begun. Proudly sponsored by Yardi for the fourth year in a row, the Senior Housing News (SHN) Changemakers series will showcase some of the most dynamic leadership senior living has to offer. Released in batches over the next several months, this year’s interviews will feature never-before-seen insights from visionaries across the industry. In that spirit, meet our first Changemaker: Tom Grape. About Tom Grape As founder, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Senior Living, a dedicated Yardi client, Grape is well versed in spearheading change. Having founded the company in 1997, he embodies what it means to shape senior living as we know it. In his interview with SHN, Grape details how he’s led Benchmark through change to attract a more complex consumer, his mission to increase diversity at the leadership level and more. Here’s a snapshot: SHN: What changes have you driven at Benchmark or in the industry that you’re especially proud of? Grape: I’ve been in the industry for a long time, and I’m proud of having been, at least in the assisted living side, there from the ground up. I was one of the founding members of, then ALFA, now Argentum, and was a chair many years ago. I founded the Massachusetts chapter, helping write legislation in Massachusetts and as a founder of the Connecticut chapter, I take pride in being one of the early folks. Benchmark was an early champion of promoting positive culture, and we are still defined by that characteristic today. The Boston Globe has named us in their “Top Places to Work” list each of the 14 years they’ve had it. We’re the only company to accomplish that in their large company category, and I’m so proud of that. We’re continuing to be a strong proponent of culture. Care, in general, is something on which we’ve worked hard to differentiate ourselves from others. And we’ve become a pioneer in capital over time. We were the first one to bring opportunity fund capital and international capital to the sector, and we were one of the first RIDEA deals. SHN: How do you think about timing so that a company like Benchmark can innovate without getting so far ahead that a new idea is just too new? Grape: The best way to drive change is to do it in increments. We’ll start with a pilot, depending on what kind of change it is, to test it, tinker with it and work out some of the kinks. If it’s not being well-received but you think the execution is OK, then maybe you’re doing it too soon. I would try to avoid too many broad-scale changes at once without having done some form of test or early introduction. SHN: If you could change one thing about the senior living industry, what would it be? Grape: I’d love the senior living industry to find a way to have our product/service received in a more universally positive fashion. Our product is a real gift to the people we serve and yet, it is not always received as such. It’s not always delivered as such. If we can have it delivered, received and portrayed more consistently it would be a great advance for the industry. Read Tom Grape’s entire interview To read the rest of Tom Grape’s conversation with SHN, check out the full interview. To learn how Yardi solutions help providers like Benchmark drive positive change, explore our Senior Living Suite infographic or product...

Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honors a group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. As a Service and Product Provider, Yardi is honored to receive the 2022 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy after being named Partner of the Year for four consecutive years. The award celebrates companies that offer energy services and products in the commercial, institutional or industrial markets for successfully assisting their clients in strategic energy management and building design. Highest EPA Accolade The Sustained Excellence award is the highest honor bestowed by the ENERGY STAR program. Its winners have made a long-term commitment to fighting climate change and protecting public health through energy efficiency. They are among the nation’s leaders in driving value for the environment, the economy and the American people. Partner of the Year winners are not only promoters of ENERGY STAR, but also are especially adept at operating within the programs and work with ENERGY STAR to make ongoing improvements. The award acknowledges Yardi’s efforts to educate and support clients with benchmarking services and technology solutions across a variety of real estate sectors. Energy wins According to the EPA, in 2020 alone, more than 270,000 commercial properties used EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® tool to measure and track their energy use, water use, and/or waste and materials. These buildings comprise more than 25 billion square feet of floorspace more than a quarter of all the commercial floorspace in the nation. In 2021, Yardi helped more than 200 clients benchmark energy in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for over 5,000 buildings, a 42 percent increase from the previous year. Yardi helped clients benchmark water in over 4,000 buildings, a 33 percent increase from 2020. In addition, Yardi actively promotes ENERGY STAR benefits, publishing 70 articles and providing resources for benchmarking energy performance and energy management such as webinars, client conferences courses, executive briefings sessions and other activities. “We’re so proud to receive this top honor from the EPA for the fourth consecutive year, and we again applaud our clients’ success. We look forward to continuing to help our clients and the real estate industry reap the benefits of using ENERGY STAR to meet their business and sustainability goals,” said Akshai Rao, vice president at Yardi. Learn more Find out how Yardi empowers real estate companies to meet energy and sustainability goals. See the complete list of 2022 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award...

More than 800 people joined the Apartment Innovation and Marketing Conference in Huntington Beach last week for four days of learning, networking and fun. The REACH by RentCafe digital marketing agency was in attendance as marketing leaders and multifamily experts from across the country took the stage to share both strategies and results. Here are some quotable moments from this incredible event to help you get inspired for your next campaign. Connect with the speakers by clicking on their names. Making marketing matter “What does it mean to be in marketing? Your job is to make a brand cool and don’t get it sued.” Nick Tran, former global head of marketing at TikTok “Be authentic. Trends aren’t one-size-fits-all. Do what works for your brand and each community.” Sarah Wieman, PRG Real Estate “In marketing, we don’t want to be order-takers. We want to be decision-makers. Stop treating yourself as support. Bring data to the table so you can come in with value.” Kelley Shannon, Bozzuto “For marketing to work in a silo, you might as well just go stand against the wall and bang your head. Getting more traffic isn’t the highest and best use of your marketing dollars. Educate your team about the value marketing brings to the table and how it impacts ROI.” Gigi Giannoni, Gables Residential “SEO should be a foundational element for you. Why would you put money in places with diminishing returns when you could make a winning long-term play?” Melissa Cartagena, Greystar Give renters what they want “We’re focused on our brand and the lifestyle, but we know from looking at our analytics, lifestyle images aren’t necessarily what sells. Lifestyle helps bring your story to life, but we need core property content and images to sell units.” Tim Hermeling, Cortland “Only 2% of residents say property management overcommunicates. And 45% of residents think their rent will stay the same or go down. Are you setting realistic expectations?” J. Turner Batdorf, J. Turner Research “A full 90% of renters are either interested in or won’t rent without soundproof walls. This feature ranks only slightly below air conditioning and in-unit laundry, and yet is advertised by very few properties.” Sarah Yaussi Pienik, NMHC Social media content is queen “We have not traditionally trusted our leasing teams with social media. But in reality, they’re the closest to your customers. Give them the power to create content. They can become the ultimate creators for you.” Kristi Fickert, Realync “You can reach so many more potential renters on Pinterest. Did you know 72% of users use Pinterest to decide what to buy offline?” Brooke Atsalis, The Management Group “I didn’t have any expectations when we tried TikTok, I just didn’t want to offend anyone. We’re in lease-up; we need velocity. We’ve gotten 74 leads. A very interested lead slid into our DMs. I’ve been pleasantly surprised.” Kira Brown, Wood Partners #REACHpeace The REACH team was also able to donate an additional $1,250 to Direct Relief International to provide aid in Ukraine because of engagement at the event. Thank you to all who participated. We look forward to seeing everyone next year at AIM...

Since 2015, Yardi has been a supporter of ShelterBox, a crisis response non-profit that assists globally in natural disasters, war zones and other crises. Last month, Yardi awarded ShelterBox a $100,000 grant to support the organization’s response to the war in Ukraine. The funds are being put to immediate use on three vital projects. Read on to hear the non-profit’s story and learn about volunteer opportunities. ShelterBox responders coordinating distribution to refugees from Ukraine. Photo courtesy ShelterBox. An Organization Overview ShelterBox President Kerri Murray visited Poland, near the Ukrainian border, during the early weeks of the war and was struck by the outpouring of support for refugees from throughout Europe. Individuals were arriving in their own cars, having driven for hours, to offer transport and refuge in other countries. “It’s really profound, in the midst of all this heartache, to see things that make you really hopeful,” said Murray. “In the worst of times, you often see the best of humanity.” She was also struck by the sadness exuded from the refugees who had to leave loved ones, especially men of age to serve in the military (ages 18-60), behind in Ukraine. “I noticed that people were not relieved. Even though they were now safely in Poland, their families were ripped apart.” ShelterBox staff and volunteers are no strangers to these situations, as they have contributed support to more 2.5 million people during over 300 crises in nearly 100 countries since the non-profit was founded 22 years ago. “As a humanitarian aid organization that works globally, we’re trying to tackle one of the biggest issues that’s plaguing our world, and it’s the massive displacement of people,” Murray said. Including the conflict in Ukraine, more than 119 million people are currently considered displaced, more than any other time in recorded history. “These include victims of violent conflict situations, like we are seeing in Ukraine, civil war situations, and then disaster situations. It could be earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, hurricanes – any events that have forcibly displaced people from their homes,” Murray said. Prior to the war in Ukraine, ShelterBox was responding in the Philippines to the aftermath of Super Typhoon Rai, which decimated homes and displaced millions in December 2021. The organization was also continuing its ongoing response in war-ridden Syria, where it has served continuously since 2011. Recipients of a ShelterBox kit in Malawi after flooding there in 2015. Photo courtesy ShelterBox. “It’s this kind of quiet work in conflict situations that are the reason ShelterBox has now been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize,” Murray said of the Syrian efforts. “The essential premise behind the organization is that we provide the things that you need to sustain your life if you lose everything in an instant, and you’re forced to flee your home.” Supporting Ukrainian Refugees The United Nations estimates that 12 million Ukrainians have been displaced because of the war, with 7.7 million remaining within the country’s borders. The organization was prepared for the conflict with advance assessment work, something they attempt to do in any country where there is a potential for conflict. Learning from its experiences in Syria and other conflict zones, ShelterBox knew that the most effective response strategies would be the most portable. Its three projects in Ukraine include the following: Mattress distribution to provide refugees on the move with a comfortable place to sleep. “These are for people who are cycling through the collective (refugee) centers, so they’re not sleeping on floors,” explained Murray. Thousands have been used over the last five weeks, and are returned after use so that they can be distributed again.Shelter-in-place kits for Ukrainian homes that have been damaged by bombs, customized to regional needs. These include tarpaulins to cover roof or wall damage, basic tools and building supplies, as well as solar lights, water carriers, thermal blankets, and hygiene kits. “It’s a very customized bespoke kit based...