Housing Recovery Research Articles

Post-disaster housing recovery estimation: Data and lessons learned from the 2017 Tubbs and 2018 Camp Fires

Post-wildfire housing recovery is a complex process for which systematically collected data remains scarce. Consequently, our ability to anticipate obstacles and plan for housing recovery from future events is limited. This study leverages housing permit datasets collected in Santa Rosa and Unincorporated Sonoma County, impacted by the 2017 Tubbs Fire, and Paradise, impacted by the 2018 Camp Fire. Permit and tax assessor data are combined to gain insights into the recovery processes for these communities. Although the percentage of rebuilt destroyed homes varies significantly between regions, the peak construction demand occurs around 1.5 years after each wildfire, with a substantial decline in the reconstruction rate after 2.5 years. Moreover, the pace of transition from permit application to reconstruction completion is similar across all three regions. Using this finding, we propose a methodology to forecast the number of parcels rebuilt per unit of time based on observations from prior events. A proof-of-concept application of the proposed methodology indicates that it estimates long-term housing recovery patterns based on permit application data collected within one year of the event. These findings indicate that a longitudinal housing recovery data database would help forecast housing recovery from future disasters by providing a source for early empirical validation of predictive models.

The effect of disaster case management on housing recovery: Analysis of disaster survivor support in Sendai City using the synthetic control method

AbstractThis study investigated how disaster case management (DCM) and disaster public housing reconstruction influence housing recovery using 4 open‐data sources. The trends in the number of households under designated temporary housing in Sendai and 18 other cities in Miyagi Prefecture were analyzed. The results revealed that both DCM and the reconstruction of public housing for disaster recovery promote housing restoration from temporary housing. Finally, Mary Richmond's discussion of wholesale and retail methods was used to elucidate policy implications for disaster victim support.

Exploring residents’ expectations and designers’ perspectives towards post-earthquake permanent housing: A case study in Antakya

Post-disaster permanent housing is the backbone of the recovery efforts after destructive events. It holds great potential to adopt new technological innovations and to provide improved conditions for these everyday spaces. However, previous investigations suggest that these housing projects lack consideration of the inhabitants' expectations, needs, and values due to environmental, cultural, and social factors, resulting in a dissatisfactory built environment. Following the Kahramanmaraş earthquake on February 6, 2023, this research aims to explore the expectations of affected residents in the historic district of Antakya. We expect to contribute to decision-makers, designers, and the technology industry to develop more user-centered housing recovery efforts in the aftermath of these devastating events. The findings revealed four implications from the expectations for post-earthquake homes: (1) designing for togetherness, (2) valuing community efforts and traditional work, (3) including productional activities, and lastly, (4) preserving and reminiscing heritage values. Additionally, we discussed these four implications with multi-disciplinary designers to expand the discussion space for designing post-earthquake permanent homes in Antakya. Overall, these implications suggest some future architectural changes in homes as their residents' expectations, including the creation of new heritage and production spaces using digital, physical, and mixed reality technologies, as well as the emergence of new social gathering spaces. By conducting a case study in Antakya, our research highlights the potential for the further development of post-disaster permanent homes that not only provide shelter and safety but also enhance the overall quality of life for the residents, both for Antakya and the other relevant cases worldwide.

A Multi-Step Framework for Measuring Post-Earthquake Recovery: Integrating Essential Infrastructure System’s Serviceability in Building Functionality

Measuring and predicting the functionality of buildings is a core aspect of community resilience analysis, which is jointly dependent on structural integrity and essential services provided by critical infrastructure systems. A functional building is one that is used for its intended services. This paper develops a multi-step community-level functionality analysis framework by modelling: (1) building functionality that integrates the building’s structural performance, essential water and electric power service performance, and physical accessibility through road networks; (2) portfolio-level building recovery by aggregating functionality of buildings for an entire community; and (3) serviceability of infrastructure systems. Graph theory is applied to assess performance of infrastructure systems. The cascading effect of water pipe failure on the road network is modelled through geographic dependency analysis. Post-earthquake water demand changes due to household dislocation and return, and increased water service demand at essential facilities are captured to model the performance of the water network under stressed conditions. The framework also assesses household-level housing recovery and integrates results with physical damage repair to more holistically depict the functional recovery of buildings from the perspective that buildings must be occupied to be fully functional. The proposed framework is illustrated for a scenario earthquake for the virtual community of Centerville. Findings provide an up-to-date measurement of post-disaster functionality for buildings and critical infrastructure systems that can guide decision-makers during pre-disaster planning and post-disaster recovery. The example demonstrates that consideration of essential infrastructure services significantly alters the functionality of the built environment during the recovery process. For instance, power outages resulted in functionality loss for 30-75% of physically operable buildings for as much as 14 days. Consideration of physical accessibility loss to nearest road segments resulted in a portfolio functionality drop of up to 9% for 6 days, and partial water shortage significantly hampered the functionality of the impacted area, including the regional hospital. Approximately 3% of households were unable to repair their damaged homes and became homeless. The proposed framework enables risk-informed decisions regarding long-term recovery at the community scale with inclusion of those living at the margins and most susceptible to long-term negative consequences from disasters.

Positive Associations between Women’s Employment at the Community-Level and Opportunities and Interpersonal Sharing within Recovery Homes

The background of this study was an investigation of a sustainability issue involving how to deal with increasing deaths due to substance use as well as housing instability among those with substance use problems. Our study investigated the relationship between community-level women’s employment and two key variables within Oxford House recovery homes: levels of employment and the sharing of resources among residents. These variables are crucial for the sustainability of recovery homes as they contribute to maintaining an ecological balance in communities. For our methods, we gathered data from recovery homes located in three different regions of the United States. The focus was on examining how women’s employment rates in these communities correlate with the employment statuses of house residents and their resource-sharing behaviors. Regarding the results, we found a positive association between rates of employment among women in these communities and employment within the recovery housesand resource lending among residents. We conclude that women’s employment at the community-level appears to be a significant macro-level factor that promotes supportive social and environmental policies. These community-level policies enhance employment opportunities and encourage interpersonal sharing within recovery homes, contributing to ecological balance and sustainability in terms of environmental, economic, and social dimensions.

Effectiveness of Socio-Technical Assistance (STA) Program for Vulnerable Beneficiaries: Evidence from Nepal’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction

This research study assesses the effectiveness of the Socio-Technical Assistance (STA) program when combined with owner-driven housing reconstruction on rural private housing recovery after Nepal’s 2015 earthquake, particularly regarding vulnerable households. Through a quantitative, 304-question survey, the study reveals that 96% of households credited STA activities for accelerating reconstruction, with 95% acknowledging its significance and 78% emphasizing its necessity. Notably, 89% expressed dependency on STA for reconstruction, and 85% believed it heightened disaster risk reduction awareness. In conclusion, the study establishes that STA activities significantly contributed to the successful reconstruction of houses for vulnerable households, addressing such critical aspects as financial support, technical assistance, housing accessibility, earthquake-resilient construction, improved livelihoods, and safety enhancements. The field study presents crucial recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of Socio-Technical Assistance (STA) activities in post-earthquake, rural private housing reconstruction. Emphasizing the need for tailored, demand-driven interventions, the study cautions against relying solely on an owner-driven reconstruction model, challenging the one-size-fits-all strategy. The study proposes integrating tailored interventions into overarching recovery strategies, advocating for coordinated efforts to enhance disaster risk reduction (DRR) awareness and to cultivate resilient communities in particularly vulnerable households as aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities. This research aims to enhance the literature on post-disaster humanitarian shelter and settlement by emphasizing the significance of inclusive and comprehensive approaches to recovery and reconstruction.

Perceptions of virtual versus in‐person recovery meetings: A cross‐sectional survey of Oxford House residents

AbstractThis study investigates shifts in the modality of addiction recovery communities from person‐to‐person interactions to virtual platforms in the context of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Our study involves members of the Oxford House recovery homes (n = 284), a major network of recovery‐supportive housing in the United States and abroad. Many residents participate in 12‐step meetings during their stay, traditionally conducted in‐person, but due to physical distancing regulations, many of these meetings transitioned to virtual platforms. We collected cross‐sectional survey data focusing on user perceptions of virtual 12‐step meetings in terms of accessibility, cost, convenience, support network strength and recovery network quality. Our study found significant differences in perceptions among different demographic groups, suggesting challenges in transitioning recovery support to online platforms. Notably, participants aged 46 and older showed a greater propensity to use online recovery forums and found online meetings convenient. Non‐White individuals and women demonstrated a more favourable perception of online meetings—a trend that also held true among those with at least some college education. Furthermore, the results show that those who initiated their recovery prior to the COVID‐19 lockdown viewed online methods more favourably, particularly in terms of accessibility and cost. Our data also revealed that participants who were categorically involved in 12‐step recovery (Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous) demonstrated a more positive perception of online methods in terms of the strength of social networks and social support quality, despite some resistance to virtual transition and maintaining focus. Further research is needed to understand these nuanced impacts and develop strategies to enhance the effectiveness of online recovery meetings.

THE ACTIVITIES OF INSURANCE COMPANIES UNDER MARTIAL LAW AND THEIR ROLE IN THE POST-WAR RECOVERY OF UKRAINE

The article analyzes the current state of activity of insurance companies, which is formed under the influence of crisis trends of recent years: the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions, a full-scale invasion of the russian federation and mass damage. The extent of the damage to the Ukraine’s economy and the needs for recovery have been analyzed, which will include special support and mobilization of the private sector, as well as necessary costs for the recovery of housing, social infrastructure, energy and transport. It is noted that the downward changes in the number of companies do not have a negative impact on the quality of services provided and the penetration of the insurance market, as these trends may indicate changes in the insurance market and its adaptation to new conditions, reflecting the impact of changes in the economy as a whole, the regulatory environment and demand for specific types of insurance products. It has been determined that in the future, the number of lawsuits under military policies from the ships damaged by sea mines, missile attacks and bombings in the conflict zone in the Black and Azov seas, as well as under private contracts, will increase in the activity of insurance companies. The structural changes in the insurance market and the factors that caused them are analyzed, as well as the trends of changes are given. It has been proven that in the conditions of martial law, the issue of war risk insurance possibilities is quite natural. The possibilities of introducing a fully functional military risk insurance system in Ukraine, which is provided for by the Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policy between Ukraine and the IMF, have been studied. This concept was developed with the participation of specialists from the World Bank, the National Bank of Ukraine of Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, which is positive for the progressive development of the insurance market of our country in the direction of adaptation to EU standards. A comprehensive analysis of the insurance products of the leading Ukrainian insurers, which provide protection against war risks, was carried out. Prospects for the introduction of new insurance products that will meet the needs of society have been determined. The most promising is the implementation of the effective measures for the proper insurance of investments against war risks, which can contribute to the attraction of funds for the reconstruction of the country, the relocation of enterprises, the organization of high-tech production and services, the creation of new jobs, the adoption and application of innovative experience, an increase in the level of income and an increase in income to state.

Public Housing Stock between Recovery and Sustainability: The Case of Tor Bella Monaca in Rome

The buildings and construction sector is responsible for 37% of energy-related CO2 emissions and over 34% of energy demand globally. The redevelopment of the existing residential building stock has become a consolidated policy of the European Commission to implement the objectives of economic recovery and energy transition towards climate neutrality by 2050. This paper illustrates the design experimentation conducted by the Sapienza University team on the recovery of the public housing compartment R5 in Tor Bella Monaca, Rome. The research proposes an original methodology that is ideally replicable for regenerating large public housing districts built on the outskirts of major European cities, characterised by significant technological and social degradation and energy deficiency. This paper provides an overview of the interventions and an evaluation of the method and set of tools developed in drafting the Technical and Economic Feasibility Study at both the neighbourhood and building levels. This contribution is addressed to researchers and public and private organisations dealing with the complexity of the social housing recovery topic, emphasising overall sustainability aspects of interventions in terms of typological and energy refurbishment of buildings, re-activation of open spaces and enhancement of landscape components, and envisioning new services through participatory methods that promote social inclusion.

“It's never going to end”: Experiences of residents recovering in damaged dwellings after superstorm sandy

Recovering from a disaster while simultaneously living in a barely habitable home poses significant challenges for residents. Although the process of recovering in-situ is common following hurricanes, it remains understudied in the disaster science literature. This study explores this experience through the examination of two primary questions. First, given its inherent challenges, why do residents live in their significantly damaged dwellings during recovery? Second, what is the nature of this experience, physically, emotionally, and perceptually? This article explores the experiences of ten Hurricane Sandy (2012) survivors who undertook housing recovery while living in barely habitable dwellings. Data were gathered from focus groups conducted with Superstorm Sandy Survivors from New Jersey five years after the hurricane. An inductive qualitative content analysis was used to understand housing recovery processes from the perspectives of residents recovering in situ. Findings examine the physical, emotional, and perceptual nature of this experience, highlighting reasons why households recover in-situ, the hazards and vulnerabilities associated with that experience, and the elusive nature of emotional recovery. This study contributes to the growing body of literature surrounding recovery experiences, and it introduces valuable insights into the challenges that survivors face while recovering in-situ.

Sustainable development study of the post-disaster housing resettlement case in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia case study: Nglepen Village and Pagerjurang Village

According to Government Regulation No. 21 of 2008, chapter 67, article 3, the Government of Indonesia promotes community involvement in the post-disaster housing recovery act. The resettlement case in Nglepen Village and Pagerjurang Village is categorized as a rapid and massive recovery based on a contractor-based strategy due to limited land availability, budgetary constraints, post-disaster emergency conditions, and the government’s responsibility to provide large numbers of sufficient housing units. In specific circumstances, the condition of the relocation houses will typically not be able to meet the needs of most residents. This study emphasized the sustainable development of the two case studies and highlighted different private residential housing types: 1) a dome-shaped reinforced structure house in Nglepen and 2) a conventional reinforced concrete structural frame house in Pagerjurang. The two different structural housing system types will affect the sustainable development of the housing condition. Field surveys and interviews were conducted in 2022–2023 to collect the primary data, and study of literacy was used to support the findings and analyzed through a descriptive qualitative method. The sustainable development in the case study relocation area is mainly influenced by aspects such as the economic sector, development priorities related to the residents’ activities and needs, and the adaptive design strategy between old and new buildings. According to the disaster management law and derivative regulations, the Government of Indonesia has sought ideal conditions for disaster-affected residents in the relocation and reconstruction processes. The study’s conclusions suggested that the government, beneficiaries, and all stakeholders must collaborate to improve post-disaster housing and settlement relocation planning and reconstruction in the future by involving the residents in the process of deciding on the location, managing the development, and creating comprehensively sustainable development guidelines for the people’s houses and its living environment.

Housing recovery and community relocation: Lessons learned from indigenous community recovery after typhoon Morakot in Taiwan

Modern states have been concerned with helping Indigenous communities recover after disasters, often through relocation, to prevent future disasters. However, such strategies are often fraught with difficulty and challenges. This study uses qualitative and quantitative data collected over a decade after Typhoon Morakot to analyze how the Han-People-dominated Taiwanese government assisted Indigenous communities in off-site disaster recovery. According to this study, post-disaster recovery programs had to be implemented speedily and comprehensively within the constraints of time and institutions, resulting in a lack of Indigenous participation and difficulty meeting the recovery needs of Indigenous communities in various ways. Notwithstanding Indigenous communities’ use of social capital to fight for and secure external resources. In early stages, Indigenous communities protested government policies through internal community bonding, bridging among affected Indigenous communities, and linking with national NGOs to raise awareness regarding recovery issues. In later stages, the government collaborated with communities that were relocated to address recovery issues. However, if relocation sites and housing options are already determined, only partial improvements can be made without resolving the primary problems of livelihood and cultural preservation. This situation calls for the promotion of pre-impact recovery planning in Indigenous communities at risk of disasters.

Effects of strength of relationship ties in recovery homes: A conundrum

Recovery homes are a widespread source of support for those attempting to maintain abstinence. For those who are able to remain in these settings for at least 6 months, outcomes tend to be favorable; however, many leave prematurely. There is a need to better understand the social integration processes that play a major role in giving recovery home residents access to available recovery-related social capital that is associated with better outcomes. The current study involved Oxford House recovery homes in 3 states and examined the strength of relationship ties among house members. We found that those who associated with peers who have higher recovery scores tend to improve their own recovery scores over time. However, we also found that those with higher recovery scores tended to create “strong” ties with similarly high-scoring alters; likewise lower-scoring individuals preferentially formed strong ties with each other. These findings suggest a conundrum: recovery home residents most in need of relational support from more recovered housemates are the least likely to obtain it. We discuss possible pathways to creating more ties between high and low-recovered residents.

Modeling post-disaster recovery: Accounting for rental and multi-family housing

Post-disaster housing recovery models increase our understanding of recovery dynamics, vulnerable populations, and how people are affected by the direct losses that disasters create. Past recovery models have focused on single-family owner-occupied housing, while empirical evidence shows that rental units and multi-family housing are disadvantaged in post-disaster recovery. To fill this gap, this article presents an agent-based housing recovery model that includes the four common type–tenure combinations of single- and multi-family owner- and renter-occupied housing. The proposed model accounts for the different recovery processes, emphasizing funding sources available to each type–tenure. The outputs of our model include the timing of financing and recovery at building resolution across a community. We demonstrate the model with a case study of Alameda, California, recovering from a simulated M7.0 earthquake on the Hayward fault. The processes in the model replicate higher non-recovery of multi-family housing than single-family housing, as observed in past disasters, and a heavy reliance of single-family renter-occupied units on Small Business Administration funding, which is expected due to low earthquake insurance penetration. The simulation results indicate that multi-family housing would have the highest portion of unmet need remaining; however, some buildings with unmet needs are anticipated to be able to obtain a large portion of their funding. The remaining portion may be filled using personal financing or may be overcome with downsizing or downgrades. Multi-family housing would also benefit the most from Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). This benefit is a result of modeling the financing sources, that CDBG-DR is available, and that many multi-family buildings do not qualify for other sources. Communities’ allocation of public funding is important for housing recovery. Our model can help inform and compare potential financing policies to allocate public funds.

A Simulation-Based Disaster Management Framework to Analyze Housing Recovery: The Case of Hampton Roads, USA

A Simulation-Based Disaster Management Framework to Analyze Housing Recovery: The Case of Hampton Roads, USA

REKABENTUK KEMUDAHALIHAN SEBAGAI STRATEGI REKA BENTUK DAN PERANCANGAN RUANG DALAMAN KEDIAMAN MELAYU BERBILANG TINGKAT

The home should support life activities, normal daily functioning systems and family individuals by providing some degree of control over the physical environment, encouraging social, religious and environmental interaction. Housing design is now heavily influenced by other cultures and does not reflect the lifestyle of the community, especially the Malays. Many previous researchers are aware that multi-storey house architecture is not suitable for Malay culture. Housing recovery is often seen as a reflection of a person's personality, interests, lifestyle, values, and social standing. Studies have shown that traditional Malay house design (RTM) has design principles that solve many problems related to the environment, social and religious nature. Making it a superior design, evergreen with a superior Malay house design style should be used as a guide in the interior design of multi-storey housing. This study examines the concept of RTM, identifying mobile (flexible), open space design planning with the characteristics of various RTM through environmental, social and Islamic perspectives. The results reveal an understanding of the value and design requirements that will influence the interior space planning of Malays living in multi-storey housing and further suggest a framework of thought and design criteria for multi-storey housing space.

A Model of Build Back Better Utilization: Long-Term Recovery Groups and Post-Disaster Housing Recovery

Housing recovery, especially for vulnerable populations, can be a challenging process. Questions regarding whether to rebuild damaged housing and whether to restore it to its previous state or to build back better must be answered. In the United States, Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) play a crucial role in channeling assistance to vulnerable community members as they embark on housing recovery. However, the experiences of LTRGs have been understudied. To address this gap, the study utilizes interviews with a diverse range of LTRG members and develops an agent-based model following the Overview, Design concepts, and Details (ODD) protocol. The results highlight the consequences of adopting or not adopting a Build Back Better (BBB) approach in post-disaster recovery. Communities do not uniformly adhere to the same reconstruction approach, as evidenced by insights from LTRG interviews. BBB implementation is uneven in US LTRGs. BBB has higher initial costs but lower long-term costs because it increases community resilience and sustainability.

How does the housing recovery and relocation process disconnect or reconnect neighborhood associations in disaster public housing? A mixed-method study of a tsunami-impacted city in Japan

Disaster public housing (DPH) plays a major role in housing recovery by providing housing options for those who have suffered losses. Previous studies have pointed out that relocation to a developed DPH causes mental illness and social disconnection among relocators from other neighborhoods. Based on these findings, national and local governments have stipulated the mixed use of private and public housing on new relocation sites and encouraged the (re)organization of neighborhood voluntary civic associations (NVCA) in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. This study aims to identify the characteristics of the DPH development process that lead to the presence or absence of NVCAs in DPH in Japan. A quantitative and qualitative mixed-method design was employed. A questionnaire survey was administered to all households (N = 23,611, n = 4372 responses, 4146 valid, 17.7%) in Kesennuma City, with particular attention paid to DPH residents regarding variables such as relocation distance, moving experience, years of residence in the city, and place attachment. Quantitative results and regression analysis indicate stronger place attachment and more years of residence in the city among short-distance than long-distance relocation residents. Moreover, there is a mechanism of non-organizing NVCA due to the outflow of young generations in DPH. The root causes of the bifurcation point between the presence or absence of organized NVCAs in DPH were found to include relocation distance, co-residence with diverse newcomers from around the city, and the separation of DPH from private recovery housing within a residential complex.

Population and housing recovery in Tōhoku, Japan

This paper examines the complexity of post-disaster reconstruction in the coastal Tōhoku region during the 10 years following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). Compared to official government accounts of rebuilding programs, which underscored their successful completion, many survivors felt that recovery had taken too long and that they did not see steady progress. This study contributes to the disaster recovery literature by underscoring the need for better tracking of reconstruction processes. I emphasize the importance of collecting and analyzing spatially disaggregated data sets of benchmarks and indicators, as well as searching for explanatory factors shaping the speed of recovery among the various communities affected by a catastrophic disaster. Conceptually, I develop a framework that identifies a number of different factors that account for spatial variation in disasters and their recovery. Empirically, I analyze population and housing data in Tōhoku fishing towns, indicating the role that the nature of the coastal terrain in particular locations played in shaping recovery. I also examine how the length of evacuation orders around the stricken Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant led to uncertain futures and the hesitation of residents to return to their home towns. The conclusion points to policy implications and suggestions for further research.

Is male out-migration associated with women's participation in post-disaster rebuilding? Evidence from Nepal after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

How does male out-migration impact women's experience of post-disaster reconstruction? This paper employs survey data collected by Nepal's Housing Recovery Reconstruction Platform in 2018 to establish robust associations between male out-migration and three indicators of women's participation in rebuilding their private houses after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake: (i) knowing where to consult for information; (ii) visiting a local government official by oneself; and (iii) signing a rebuilding agreement with the local government. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews conducted in 2022 further revealed that women whose husbands were abroad undertook roles that they would not have performed had their spouse been present, including in relation to management and decision-making. However, the interviews also highlighted challenges that women had to overcome, such as a lack of knowledge of procuring materials and difficulties leading the process as a woman. This study advances the literature by establishing a relationship between male out-migration and variation in women's post-earthquake rebuilding experiences.