Community strategies in the development of Merapi permanent settlements

Abstract

Merapi relocated settlements has been inhabited since 2012, two years after the Merapi Volcano eruption. Despite the adequate facilities, the land and house are not enough to accommodate the additional family members. Adapting to the condition, the community made several improvements in the physical condition of the permanent settlement. This study aims to determine the community's strategies in the Karangkendal and Plosokerep resettlement area in developing their dwellings. The observation includes the community's methods in enhancing the existing housing and its funding strategies in developing houses in general. Employing a case study approach, observation and in-depth interviews conducted with the head of the family and the head of the local hamlet. Based on the analysis, most of the community in the Karangkendal and Plosokerep resettlement area prefer to develop their existing houses. Although several residents consider leaving the resettlement area, most of them remain to stay and develop the existing house because building a new house requires a lot of money. They spend their private savings that are soon considered as the community's financial strategy. To fulfill that demand, the community needs external support. For instance, the government could provide revolving funds or build a coop that effectively supports housing improvement.