Natasha and Barthol Louis with son Barnavens in their Habitat upgradable shelter in Leogane, Haiti.

Since 1998, Habitat for Humanity has supported disaster response initiatives across the globe. With the number and severity of disasters increasing around the world, Habitat for Humanity is called upon more and more to respond.

One key to fulfilling our mission of eliminating poverty housing worldwide is to make disaster response and disaster risk reduction strategies a top priority.

Shelter and housing needs created by disasters and conflicts represent a major setback to Habitat’s efforts to eliminate homelessness and poverty housing.

At Habitat, we have found that responding after disasters is not enough. It is necessary to tackle vulnerabilities and build resilience within families, communities and settlements if we want to see a different outcome to disasters.

This is why Habitat organisations around the world are taking action to help families and communities with disaster risk reduction initiatives. Habitat organisations, especially those located in disaster-prone areas, have developed innovative approaches that provide more comprehensive and meaningful assistance—before and after disasters— to the families and communities we serve.

For example, in Puducherry in India, Habitat’s community-based disaster risk management initiatives include preparedness training for vulnerable groups, especially women, children and disabled people. Other initiatives include retrofitting roofs to make houses resistant to high winds associated with cyclones.

In Haiti, Habitat is two years into its disaster recovery programme. Since the earthquake in January 2010, Habitat has helped over 40,000 Haitian families to rebuild their lives through the provision of improved housing  and training  including  courses in construction techniques, construction business practices and financial literacy.