Haiti shelter sector assessment : one year after the earthquake

The HSSA is based on the prevailing shelter conditions one year after the earthquake. It supplements the policy advice previously provided by the IHC over the period of its USAID grant. Because of rapidly changing circumstances in Haiti"s shelter sector, the HSSA is intended to be updated, revised and expanded upon as the shelter recovery process unfolds in Haiti. The HSSA is presented in two parts. Part 1, the summary and conclusions starts with background on the effect of the earthquake on the shelter sector and the USAID response through December 31, 2010. It presents the objectives and underlying principles of the assessment. It also summarizes information on the present conditions in the shelter sector and the structure of the 2011 USAID program designed to assist the shelter recovery process. The last section of Part 1 summarizes the recommendations developed in Part 2 of the assessment. Part 2, the principal issues regarding shelter sector recovery in Haiti, is organized around three types of issues and 14 specific issue areas. This part also presents the rationale for 47 recommendations to USAID, a list that reflects both the severity of the disaster and the complexity of the shelter sector. Some of the recommendations have to do with matters that are under the direct control of USAID. These recommendations have implications for how USAID uses its own scarce financial resources. However, many other recommendations cannot be carried out by USAID alone. Rather, they call for USAID leadership and collaboration with the Government of Haiti (GOH), other donors and the NGO community. These recommendations involve using USAID funds and staff time to leverage resources from partner organizations, and influence the policies and strategies affecting the shelter recovery process beyond direct USAID investments. (Author abstract, modified)