Preparedness is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: A Tiered Maturity Model for Assessing Preparedness in Homeless Residential Organizations in Los Angeles

Abstract

Community-based organizations (CBOs) are critical to supporting homeless individuals during disasters. However, CBOs often have difficulty engaging in preparedness planning, and are often unable to prioritize business continuity planning. This qualitative study evaluated disaster preparedness at six Los Angeles nonprofit homeless residential service providers using a tiered maturity model that organized preparedness into three progressively advanced steps: (1) life safety, (2) continuity of operations planning (COOP), and (3) collaborative relationships. Twelve semistructured interviews were conducted with executive staff and emergency planners from the six organizations. Respondents reported being very prepared in implementing life safety measures, such as having evacuation plans and vital life safety supplies. However, plans for continuity of operations tended to be limited. These organizations lacked written protocols for prioritizing among services or triaging limited staff and resources. Collaborative partnerships with peer organizations in disaster planning were extremely rare. These concerns underscore the importance of external support and guidance for CBO preparedness to enable them to plan for service continuity and connect with partners to build a more resilient safety net.