Enhancing housing recovery policy and practice for improving community resilience to future disasters
The research examined seven case studies of disaster recovery (from bushfire, flood and cyclones) in Australia. It found effective housing policies need to provide immediate responses, such as relief and temporary housing; as well as future-focused responses, such as ensuring communities are better prepared for disasters, and taking steps to prevent and mitigate their impacts. They combine technical responses (such as land use planning and building design), social resilience (citizen inclusion), cross-sector collaboration, financial resources and political support.
Commonwealth, state/territory and local governments share responsibility for managing the risk and impacts of disasters. State and Territory governments take lead responsibility for response and recovery, with the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements establishing how costs are shared.
Other influential national policy frameworks include the National Partnership on Disaster Risk Reduction, the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience and the Disaster Ready Fund.
Approaches to temporary housing differ between states and territories, and may include:
- temporary village-style accommodation blocks
- modified short-stay accommodation
- accommodation sourced from the commercial market: motels, hotels, short-term lets, hostels
- modular housing (e.g. huts, pods and caravans).
Flood-affected residents experienced more issues with their temporary and permanent housing assistance than residents who were affected by bushfires.
Providing housing that is effective, timely and equitable is a significant challenge. Options depend on the existing mix of housing, accommodation and modular structures in a region or that can be quickly obtained. Community diversity and unique needs add further complexity, meaning planning and review are essential.
