Disasters are becoming more frequent, severe and unpredictable, forcing millions from their homes every year. Yet humanitarian funding is often reactive, arriving only after a crisis has unfolded. In those critical first days, families may be left struggling to survive. While needs are growing, only a small proportion of crisis funding is available in advance. Early funding enables faster, more flexible responses. We need to be ready before disaster strikes – not after it makes the headlines.

When disaster strikes and families lose their homes, shelter is vital for survival. The ShelterBox Forward Fund enables early, decisive action by pre-financing responses. Raising funds before a disaster reaches the headlines allows us to deploy response teams immediately, pre position shelter and household aid in high risk regions and scale up rapidly as situations worsen. In short, it gives us readiness, the ability to act in a world where volatility is the new norm.