A. EMERGENCY HOME REPAIR PROGRAM. B. EMERGENCY PLAN FOR REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES

Evaluation covers the period 11/79-10/80 and is based on site visits and interviews with project personnel. Six PVO"s were supplied with packages of basic building materials (wood, roofing, and nails) to sell to individuals according to their income level. The sales proceeds have been held for later joint PVO/local community projects. Some PVO"s also used work brigades and/or "maestros de obra" to assist in difficult rebuilding efforts, e.g., erecting roof rafters. Of the 1,963 houses to be repaired with these packages, all but 64 are complete. The six PVO"s are the Catholic Relief Services, American Institute for Free Labor Development, Dominican Development Foundation, Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas, Southern Baptist Mission of the Dominican Republic, and CARE. The National Housing Institute (INVI) was provided with zinc roofing, ridge rolls, and nails to repair 1,366 shelter units, of which 688 are now finished. INVI is directing the reconstruction of 1,022 of the 1,366 units, while several PVO"s are directing the rebuilding of 344 units. INVI also will construct 930 units equipped with latrines and, in some cases, water works. INVI identified six communities, one of which will have isolated instead of clustered units. An Inter-Institutional Planning Commission composed of PVO"s, INVI, and host government agencies was formed to coordinate future disaster relief efforts. PVO"s without prior housing experience or programs have upgraded their own institutional capabilities, as well as those of local PVO"s they enlisted. PVO"s complained, however, that A.I.D."s untimely fund disbursements limited project impact. It is recommended that: (1) USAID consolidate its filing system for project finances; (2) an outside audit of the PVO"s be performed at the project"s end; (3) a survey be conducted regarding the use of materials and sales proceeds; and (4) low-cost wind and earthquake resistant shelter solutions be developed.