Habitat for Humanity introduced its new Habitat Strong program, an initiative launched in partnership with Simpson Strong-Tie and Travelers, to help local Habitat for Humanity organizations build stronger, more resilient homes across the U.S.

Habitat Strong is based on a pilot program funded by Travelers to build disaster-resilient homes using criteria established by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The funding will be used to build Habitat for Humanity homes in 16 weather-sensitive areas in 2016.

"We are grateful for organizations like Simpson Strong-Tie and Travelers that bring their expertise to the table to help create fortified buildings in areas prone to natural disasters," said Larry Gluth, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada for Habitat for Humanity International. "It's because of this that we are able to work together to build strength and stability through housing."

Habitat for Humanity homes in areas susceptible to flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, winds and wildfires can benefit from Habitat Strong building standards, which include a suite of fortified codes and best practices for building more resilient homes. Available to all Habitat for Humanity organizations across the country, the Habitat Strong program was created to be affordable, while offering long-lasting benefits to Habitat for Humanity homeowners.

"We are very proud to be a part of the new Habitat Strong program aimed at incorporating building practices that improve homes' resiliency to natural disasters. Building a home with a continuous load path ensures it is tied together from the roof to the foundation with metal connectors, which makes the home better able to withstand earthquake forces or high winds from tornados and hurricanes," said Simpson Strong-Tie President and CEO Karen Colonias.

Simpson Strong-Tie has supported Habitat for Humanity for over two decades and has been a national sponsor since 2007, donating more than $2.5 million in cash and products, including the structural framing hardware (connectors and fasteners) and reinforced shear walls used in new home construction. The company will also support Habitat for Humanity's annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in 2016.

Simpson Strong-Tie employees also extend their support to Habitat for Humanity, volunteering their time, labor and technical skills on Habitat for Humanity build sites worldwide. As part of a company goal, Simpson Strong-Tie asked their employees in 2015 to participate in more Habitat for Humanity builds. Employees who had not participated in a previous build were invited to volunteer with the nonprofit, leading to an additional 200 employees and five facilities participating in their first Habitat for Humanity build.

"Travelers has a strong focus on supporting organizations that help create and maintain safe, stable and vibrant local neighborhoods," said Marlene Ibsen, vice president of community relations at Travelers, and CEO and president of the Travelers Foundation. "Partnering with Habitat for Humanity to help build affordable, more resilient homes is an important element that we hope will make a real difference in the lives of many families over time."

Travelers and Habitat for Humanity have worked together for more than 20 years through local and national partnerships. In 2011, the Travelers Fortifies Habitat Homes initiative was launched to enable Habitat to develop its capacity for building more wind-resistant homes, which has now grown into the Habitat Strong program. Over the past decade, Travelers has donated more than $4.2 million to support the FORTIFIED program, home construction and volunteer engagement on a national level.