Resilience starts at home: Rethinking disaster risk reduction through diverse experiences of home

This report examines the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction theme, "Resilience starts at home," and questions conventional assumptions about home in disaster risk reduction (DRR). It draws upon research and international policy reviews, including sources from different social groups and geographies such as LGBTQIA+ experiences, homelessness, institutional living, and nomadic communities. The report investigates how varied definitions and experiences of "home" affect vulnerability, access to assistance, disaster risk assessments, and recovery.

The report finds that assumptions about home and household structures can intensify disaster risk by overlooking groups such as people facing homelessness, survivors of gender-based violence, LGBTQIA+ individuals, institutional residents, and nomadic populations. Authors recommend that DRR policies should: recognize diverse understandings of home; design early warning and assistance systems based on actual living circumstances; prioritize personal safety alongside physical hazard protection; acknowledge diverse households and care networks; strengthen institutional accountability for those with limited autonomy; and address structural inequalities through meaningful participation of marginalized communities. Inclusive DRR requires collaboration across sectors and should be guided by community knowledge, moving beyond reliance on household preparedness alone to ensure policies protect all people—regardless of where and how they live.