Managing Hurricane Recovery for Healthy and Affordable Communities [PDF]

The Alliance for Healthy Homes has written this Guide for organizations and agencies that are working with people affected by recent hurricanes—including community development corporations, tenant groups, and other advocates for decent and affordable housing; environmental organizations and environmental justice advocates; public interest lawyers; health advocates; health care and social services providers; other helping organizations; and civic watchdog groups—as well as for policy makers trying to ensure that recovery benefits everyone, not just a privileged few.

While the Guide covers many issues vital to families and individuals struggling to cope with loss of jobs, homes, and other personal property and assets, we have tried to focus on the serious environmental health hazards caused by hurricanes—especially ones related to housing—and how the recovery process can reduce these hazards and hopefully prevent similar consequences in future hurricanes.

The Guide is divided into three parts:

• Part I provides basic information on the array of public benefits that are available to hurricane survivors. Understanding how to access these benefits can be critical for maintaining one’s health, including access to health care, and having sufficient resources for short-term basic needs, including food and shelter.
• Part II addresses several short- and medium-term recovery issues. We have attempted to cover topics related to preservation and repair of housing with an emphasis on health and safety issues related to returning to flood-affected areas and properties.
• Part III frames larger, longer-term questions about health and affordability that are intertwined with recovery and rebuilding—questions for which there are not yet clear answers. The Alliance hopes the discussion of these helps point the way for a more democratic and participatory rebuilding process that takes seriously the affordable, healthy housing needs of people.

Managing Hurricane Recovery for Healthy and Affordable Communities [PDF]

The Alliance also recognizes the vast real-work experience of those working on the ground in the Gulf Coast region, as well as those who have been involved in past hurricane recovery efforts. Because of this, the Alliance encourages other organizations to share with us practical advice and effective practices that they have found helpful.