Are Public Housing Authorities Preparing for Disasters? A Mixed Methods Study on Public Housing Authority Disaster Risk Management Strategies

Abstract

Disasters damage and destroy housing, exacerbating adverse impacts on low-income renters living in federally-subsidized housing units managed by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) across the United States (U.S.). To date, there is limited research on what approaches to preparedness, response, and recovery, or disaster risk management strategies, are being implemented by PHAs. This dissertation research utilizes qualitative and survey research methods across three studies to explore if, how, and why U.S. PHAs are implementing disaster risk management (DRM) strategies. In the first study, we conducted a content analysis of state-level disaster plans to better understand the roles and responsibilities delegated to PHAs. We found that state-level disaster plans rarely outline roles and responsibilities of PHAs, suggesting an urgent need for integration of PHAs into planning and opportunity to develop Disaster Housing Plans that include PHAs and other low-income housing providers. In the second study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), an implementation science framework, to identify the barriers, facilitators, and opportunities to implement DRM strategies at PHAs. Results showed that financial and administrative hindrances, lack of policy, and lack of disaster training among PHA staff are notable barriers to engaging in DRM at PHAs, while past disaster experience, interagency partnerships, and designated DRM roles at PHAs support successful implementation of DRM strategies at PHAs. In the third study, a national-level survey was administered to PHAs to assess their implementation of DRM strategies. Survey results, along with secondary data on community- and organizational-level characteristics, were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings suggest that PHA Moving To Work status, PHA size, urban classification, state-level political affiliation, and perceived hazard risk influence PHA DRM implementation. Together, these studies demonstrate the need for PHA inclusion in state-level disaster planning, uncover barriers and facilitators to PHA DRM implementation, and provide a novel overview of DRM strategies that PHAs are currently implementing. Findings identify numerous opportunities for improving implementation of DRM strategies at PHAs, and can inform decisions to promote equity-focused federal disaster and housing policy to better protect residents living in federally-subsidized housing units.