Opportunities for Implementation of Disaster Risk Management Strategies among Public Housing Authorities

Renters living in subsidized housing managed by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are vulnerable to disasters. This study aims to describe barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for the implementation of disaster risk management (DRM) strategies at PHAs. Fifteen semi-structured key informant (KI) interviews with federal and state housing officials, PHA leaders, and housing non-profit staff were conducted and thematically analyzed. Interviewees mentioned financial and administrative hindrances, lack of policy, and lack of disaster training among PHA staff as notable barriers to engaging in DRM. Past disaster experience, interagency partnerships, and designated DRM roles at PHAs were introduced as facilitators for implementing DRM strategies.