The Most Vulnerable to Housing Rebuilding after Hurricane Maria: Evaluating FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program in Puerto Rico

Abstract

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, thousands of households experienced severe housing damage. To ensure that homeowners can get back on their feet after major disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to US states and territories. This program provides financial aid to homeowners who apply for help in the rebuilding efforts. While receiving financial assistance and providing quick reconstruction initiation time is necessary for people to return to normalcy, there were significant delays in housing reconstruction, which unequally affected vulnerable populations. This study identifies and specifies the inequities observed in IHP following Hurricane Maria. Data collection included household surveys (N=305) in two communities in Puerto Rico in December 2018 and January 2019. Binary logistic regression analyses show that the number of employed people in a household and property titles were significantly and positively associated with IHP approval. The analysis further suggests that this approval acts as a key mediation, as it directly influences the reconstruction timeline alongside the number of employed people in a household. The results of this study confirm that IHP plays a vital role in postdisaster housing reconstruction. Together, these results underscore the need for targeted government policies that address property title issues and provide additional resources for households with high unemployment rates.