The Housing Crisis After Disaster: Sheltering Needs of Low-Income Households After Hurricane Harvey

What is it about?

When disasters like hurricanes strike, thousands of people lose their homes and need emergency shelter. However, not everyone has equal access to disaster housing assistance. This study examines who gets shelter after a disaster and who is left behind, focusing on low-income households affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. We analyzed FEMA data from over 280,000 damaged housing units to understand how many people needed shelter and whether they received help through the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program. We found that low-income households were not only more likely to need shelter but also less likely to receive it compared to higher-income households. Even when both groups required shelter, low-income households had a significantly lower chance of getting TSA assistance. These findings highlight gaps in disaster relief programs and raise concerns about fairness in how emergency shelter is distributed. If low-income households—who are often the most vulnerable—cannot access shelter after a disaster, they face a higher risk of long-term housing instability and homelessness. This study suggests that disaster response efforts must prioritize equitable access to emergency shelter to ensure that those who need it most are not left behind.

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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our study provides new evidence on disaster housing inequality by examining who receives emergency shelter after a disaster and why low-income households face greater barriers to access. While previous research has explored general housing needs after disasters, this study is among the first to use FEMA data from over 280,000 damaged homes to analyze how income level influences access to Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA). Our findings reveal that low-income households, despite having greater sheltering needs, are significantly less likely to receive TSA assistance than higher-income households, highlighting a major gap in disaster relief efforts. This research is particularly timely as disasters become more frequent and severe due to climate change, placing growing pressure on emergency shelter systems. Ensuring equitable access to disaster assistance is more urgent than ever, especially for vulnerable populations. By identifying disparities in shelter access, our study emphasizes the need for policy reforms that prioritize at-risk communities, making disaster response more effective and inclusive. These insights can help guide policymakers, emergency planners, and social service organizations in addressing systemic inequalities in disaster recovery efforts.