The entire globe is affected by several natural calamities, which are under no human control. It consists of loss of lives along with livelihoods, leading to become a barrier to in-service networks as well as leaving millions of people homeless under dire circumstances.
According to the report published by Reuters in 2017, around 14 million people are left homeless on an average basis every year. The reason behind it is due to several natural calamities, including floods as well as storms.
As per the study, South and Southeast Asia nations have the highest displacement and housing loss.
But disasters alongside have played a key role in targeting vulnerable sections of the Caribbean nations as well as Latin American nations.
The Nature Isle of the Caribbean, ‘Dominica’ is among one of the nations in the Caribbean which have witnessed many natural disasters. The island-based nation has almost gone into ruin following the destructive attacks of Tropical Storm Erica and Hurricane Maria.
UNDP, as well as OCHA Services, have reported that Tropical Storm Erika has resulted in causing heavy destruction and loss equivalent to around 90% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Dominica.
Alongside this, the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment has made a conclusive statement that Hurricane Maria has resulted in causing overall damage of EC$2.51 billion (US$931 million) as well as a loss of EC$1.03 billion (US$382 million), which values around 226 per cent of 2016’s GDP.
The people of Dominica were left with very few options available for rebuilding and recovering. As a result, the government stepped in and developed a mechanism that was independent of the international community help and might potentially put the nation into serious debt.
The need for reconstruction and the goal of adapting the principle of climate change made the government consider developing new policies in urban planning and developing integrated housing communities all across the country, resulting in the Housing Revolution Programme (Integrated Housing Development) was introduced.
Additionally, the following programme has been entirely funded by the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme of Dominica and developed the way of Public-Private Partnership. The government-led initiative aims to provide new, modern, integrated housing to low- and middle-income families.
Meanwhile, it took not more than two years to climb what was desired. In December 2018, the resettlement of displaced families was begun at the Bellevue Chopin Housing Development. Three hundred fifty (350) residential units, a 28-unit commercial complex, a community centre, a health centre, and a recreational field finished off the first integrated community in the nation.
During the past three years, twelve other housing developments have been brought in over the East Coast, West Coast, as well as the capital city, Roseau. Till now, around 2,000 of the housing units have been completed successfully.
Moreover, the housing developments will also increase in Scotts Head, Eggleston, Canefield, Vieille Case, Pineville, Point Michel, Woodford Hill, Paix Bouche, and Roseau Valley this year.
Meanwhile, a master-planned community development awaits the residents of Grand Bay in 2023. Beyond the beautifully crafted homes as well as scenic view of Grand Bay Ville are services and amenities such as shops, basketball court, community centre, pocket parks, recreational spaces, and gas station; safely secured 24/7, with the police station and fire station within the area.
The standard design for the developments is a mixture of two- and three-bedroom houses and apartments with a toilet and bath, a living room, a dining area, and a kitchen. Additionally, as part of efforts to ensure resilience, the structure was built with reinforced concrete with stormproof windowpanes. It is also fortified with retaining walls, sewage and stormwater drainages, and all utility lines are underground.
The units are granted, not sold or rented, and are awarded to beneficiaries through a selection system based on dire and social needs, considering single mothers.
Apart from providing climate-resilient houses, the programme has also cleared the way to create and sustain livelihoods. The local contractors and the other skilled workers were employed for the various housing developments.
