The Associated Press recently followed up on the living conditions in Haiti two years after the devastating earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. Makeshift communities, as was discovered, are still the norm, with tarps frequently used for homes. Although tarps are a UV-resistant and waterproof material helpful for keeping out the elements, they are not designed for long-term use, let alone as a primary source of shelter.
So, what has happened in Haiti over this time, and are any improvements taking place? An overhaul of the government appears to be one step in a positive direction, but even with a new president and proposed initiatives, neither a housing agency nor a defined strategy has been put in place. Although $2.38 billion has been spent in the country, minimal building has occurred, and because of water and supplies, citizens have gravitated toward camps.
Originally, as the piece detailed, the earthquake was seen as an opportunity for the impoverished nation to start over, and a general plan of new housing and more jobs in Port-au-Prince was proposed. Instead, no plan was enacted, and while some new housing and more classrooms have been erected, the government has left it up to citizens to rebuild their communities and create jobs. Additionally, new housing initiatives just target only five percent of those in need, creating permanent shantytowns in the country.
With this loose strategy, some Port-au-Prince residents have moved into mountainside shantytown Jalousie, creating a new neighborhood and community for the time being. Some residents, as quoted in the Associated Press piece, find the new community a significant upgrade to the post-earthquake camps; because of limited resources in Jalousie, however, other residents consider it more of the same situation.
If Haiti is to truly move forward from the earthquake’s aftermath, including providing housing for all citizens, what type of approach should the government take?
