Self-built housing as an alternative for post-disaster recovery

Purpose: This study evaluates cases where self-built housing is applied by NGO’s as a strategy for post-disaster recovery of low-income groups and indicates opportunities for further research.Methodology: Three post-disaster recovery case studies; (1) Sri Lanka tsunami 2004, (2) Pakistan floods 2010, (3) Philippines typhoon 2013, are examined from three points of view, namely cost and time reduction, maintenance of local tradition and increased hazard resistance, and concentrate on expected long-term effects the approach can have on community resilience.Findings: The research reveals that self-built as a strategy for post-disaster recovery, could enable cost and time reduction and maintenance of local traditions. Community resilience is achieved by creating a greater understanding of hazard resistant construction principles which decreases the vulnerability of those hit by a disaster. However, tools are lacking to exchange building related knowledge so that it lasts.Research limitations: Due to a lack of examples, the case-studies available are not so suitable for a detailed comparison, but can nevertheless be used to give an initial evaluation to the application of self-built housing. Originality value: Better insight is provided into community resilience, with a focus on self-built housing as an approach for post-disaster recovery, giving direction for future research into knowledge exchange tools which could support NGO’s in applying them