Disaster Housing Construction Challenges in America

Abstract

Disaster housing is frequently identified as a major challenge for emergency managers in the United States. This report looks at disaster housing within the broader context of America’s non-disaster construction market, with an emphasis on housing technology options as well as disaster policy dynamics across federal, state, and local governments. Analysis is grouped around three pillars: current situation, possible future, and obstacles. The report includes a comprehensive look at past disaster housing policies, a descriptive analysis of housing market trends and disaster reconstruction funding, and state and local perspectives on past challenges and future directions. With an intended audience of emergency managers, housing agencies, policymakers, building code experts, and the construction industry, the report identifies 11 recommendations grouped into the areas of Process Improvement, Decision Support, and Direction Setting.