Shelter after disasters in Australia

This study examines 2 major events of the summer bushfires during 2019–20, where more than 3,000 houses were destroyed and the severe floods in New South Wales in 2022 where more than 15,000 houses were destroyed or damaged in the Northern Rivers region and in the Central West. In the most affected town of Eugowra, more than 80% of buildings including houses were damaged (NSW Audit Office 2024). Shelter provision after disasters is the responsibility of state governments and indicative recovery costs for the New South Wales floods are more than $300 million spent in less than a year for temporary housing (NSW Audit Office 2024). 

This study explored the outcomes of these investments and efforts. It draws on the cases of the 2 nominated disaster events, discusses the typical approaches to shelter provision and analyses the achievements and challenges. A key argument is made that the primary preoccupation is with temporary shelter provision and there is limited attention to support long-term, disaster-resilient solutions for permanent housing that could reduce the need for continually providing short-term temporary solutions. Another option is to build into policy and practice a vulnerability paradigm that places the shelter needs of people at the centre so that post-disaster interventions do not exacerbate or create vulnerability and, instead, support resilience.