Incremental Housing as a Strategy to Address Coastal Hazard-Related Housing Precarity and Vulnerability for Rural Low-Income Households: A Case Study in Westport, WA

Abstract

As the population vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate change impacts, low-income communities are the most in need of affordable, climate change-resilient housing. However, traditional models for affordable housing development often overlook the specific needs of future residents, such as the ability to participate in the process and retain an element of control over their housing – an especially difficult challenge when future changes are unpredictable. This thesis explores an alternative model for affordable housing development, incremental building, and uses the city of Westport, WA as a case study for its application. I argue that an incremental building approach encourages participatory design in the development process, which can be particularly beneficial for low-income housing residents, and offers a more flexible form of development that can adapt more readily to changes in our environment.