A group of researchers from academic and research institutions, housing advocates, and legal aid attorneys who are engaged in disaster housing recovery research met in Washington, DC on February 12-13 to explore research opportunities and solutions to data transparency challenges that act as barriers to equitable disaster recovery. The group comprises a new NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Research Consortium which convenes to share research needs, to identify research initiatives on which to collaborate and to seek greater data transparency to ensure federal resources for disaster response and recovery meet the housing needs of the most vulnerable households.
The group met with officials from FEMA and HUD as well as staff of congressional committees that oversee those agencies. Officials at HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) met with Consortium members to discuss the department’s disaster-related research, and OpenFEMA met with the group to discuss opportunities to increase data transparency. Both researchers and advocates have struggled to obtain consistent, quality data on disaster recovery that help them track equitable recovery and understand best practices. Greater transparency and improved data will ensure federal funds are spent more effectively, efficiently, and equitably during recovery and help state and local governments prepare more accurate assessments of need and impact following a disaster.
Disaster Housing Research Consortium members also discussed with one another opportunities for future research on the impact of disasters on vulnerable populations. The Consortium meets quarterly.