This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Press Room
VIABILITY Grant Helps Fuel Vinyl-Based Disaster Relief in Southwest Louisiana
LAKE CHARLES, LA, May 22, 2025 – The Vinyl Institute, a U.S. trade association representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl, is proud to support the rollout of a grassroots disaster resilience initiative today in Lake Charles. Every Shelter, a nonprofit specializing in emergency response tarps made from vinyl, has partnered with the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Association to deploy emergency roof patch kits to homes in need. The pilot program launched with a live installation with work provided by Integrity Homes, a local veteran-owned construction company.
“We are proud to see Every Shelter’s work in repurposing old vinyl billboards help Americans in need,” said Ned Monroe, president and CEO of the Vinyl Institute. “This collaboration with the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Association and Integrity Homes showcases the humanitarian possibilities available when we invest in post-consumer vinyl recycling.”
“Every Shelter has long chosen vinyl advertising billboards for their proven resilience,” said John O’Donnell, who is helping coordinate the pilot. “They’re engineered to survive heat, UV, wind, and rain, and they’re plentiful across hurricane-prone regions like Louisiana and Texas. This isn’t a band-aid, it’s a tactical stopgap that helps keep people safe while they wait for permanent repairs.”
“Veterans know how to respond when it counts,” said George Hernandez of the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Association. “This effort puts tools directly into the hands of those who need them, and gives us a chance to serve our neighbors again in a new way.”
Each Emergency Roof Patch Kit covers a 6×8 foot section of damaged roof and includes cap nails and installation instructions for quick, on-the-ground deployment by residents, volunteers, or trained crews. These kits are made from repurposed billboard vinyl; a material selected specifically for its durability in extreme weather conditions. The pilot will also help test municipal use cases, such as distributing patch kits through property standards departments, emergency managers, or local nonprofits who regularly encounter housing instability.
Every Shelter received two VIABILITY recycling grants in May of 2023 and June of 2024 to repurpose used vinyl billboards for the Emergency Roof Patch Kits being utilized in this pilot program. To learn more about Every Shelter’s VIABILITY grants, click here.
About the Vinyl Institute
The Vinyl Institute, founded in 1982, is a U.S. trade organization representing the leading manufacturers of vinyl, vinyl chloride monomer, and vinyl additives and modifiers. The Vinyl Institute serves as the voice for the vinyl industry, engaging industry stakeholders in shaping the future of the vinyl industry. The U.S. vinyl industry encompasses nearly 3,000 vinyl manufacturing facilities, more than 350,000 employees, and an overall economic value of $54B. To learn more about the Vinyl Institute, please visit vinylinfo.org.
About Every Shelter
Every Shelter is a nonprofit organization designing and delivering innovative shelter solutions for displaced populations. With a global footprint and a deep commitment to human dignity, they specialize in upcycling durable materials like billboard vinyl into tools for survival, and now, for preparedness and recovery in U.S. communities. Learn more at www.emergencytarp.org or contact info@everyshelter.org.
About Integrity Homes
Integrity Homes is a veteran-owned and operated construction company based in Southwest Louisiana. Known for their craftsmanship and community-first mindset, they bring skill and heart to disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts across the region.
###