Shelter & Settlement

Quality programming in Shelter and Settlement Rapid Response and Recovery (SSRRR) provides a safe and dignified living environment to people affected by a disaster as soon as possible after disaster hits and for as long as it takes until affected people can rebuild permanent homes.  Timely Emergency Shelter, simple solutions such as tarps and tents, provide short-term protection to a large number of affected people immediately after a disaster strikes.   Transitional Shelter plays a critical role in bridging the gap between emergency shelter and long-term reconstruction – providing a rapid, low-cost, Sphere-compliant core unit which can be expanded and/or upgraded to a permanent shelter (context permitting). Using locally-sourced as well as some salvaged materials to reduce cost and procurement delays, allows CRS and partners to quickly serve large numbers of affected households in a cost-effective manner. These programs, when coordinated with the overall recovery plan, are able to influence the direction of recovery addressing issues such as settlement and urban planning, land tenure and infrastructure.

SSRRR interventions combine the provision of inputs (direct distribution, vouchers or cash grants) with targeted technical assistance through construction of demo units, training of skilled labor, flyers, etc. to ensure Sphere compliance and improved shelter resistance to future disaster risks. Training of skilled labor and community members in construction techniques that improve resistance to natural hazards during the shelter recovery phase also often contributes to the reconstruction of safer permanent homes that increase community resilience to disaster.

A number of different tools have been developed to help support staff involved with SSRRR interventions.  These include:

How-To Guide: Managing Post-disaster (Re)-Construction Projects

Sample job descriptions and technical tests for staff involved in shelter and WASH activities

Specifications for common emergency shelter kit items