Exploring implementation of disaster risk management strategies by public housing authorities: A national survey

Abstract

The United States is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. Simultaneously, disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity partly due to anthropogenic climate change. Disasters exacerbate adverse impacts on extremely low-income renters living in federally-subsidized housing units managed by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). To date, there is an overall lack of knowledge around what disaster risk management (DRM) strategies are being implemented by PHAs, as well as factors that influence PHA DRM implementation. A national survey was administered to PHAs to assess their implementation of DRM strategies. Survey results, along with secondary data, were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Fisher’s exact test of independence was used to calculate the association between each binary DRM strategy variable (“Yes” versus “No”) and each PHA characteristic. Findings suggest that PHA Moving To Work (MTW) status, PHA size, urban classification, state-level political affiliation, and perceived hazard risk influence PHA DRM implementation.