2007 Media Releases & Alerts
NAHB Research Center Awarded $2.9 Million HUD Grant to Conduct Landmark Study
of Disaster Relief Housing Alternatives
October 17, 2007, Upper Marlboro, Md. - The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the NAHB Research Center, the housing
research arm of the National Association of Home Builders, a $2.9 million grant
to conduct extensive research and provide recommendation on effective
post-disaster housing alternatives in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. HUD
competitively selected the Research Center to oversee technical evaluation of
the construction and viability of housing built under FEMA's $400 million
Alternative Housing Pilot Program (AHPP), an initiative aimed at expanding the
types of housing FEMA provides disaster-affected communities. Through this
award, the NAHB Research Center will provide HUD, and ultimately Congress an
in-depth assessment of how the AHPP projects are performing in Gulf Coast
states— including both successes and flaws.
Research of AHPP housing alternatives will span 54 months, focusing on work
sites in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Since much of the AHPP
housing will be factory-built, the Research Center selected the Manufactured
Housing Research Alliance (MHRA) as its primary partner for technical
engineering analysis during the project. Together, the Research Center and MHRA
represent the entire shelter industry and can provide a complete range of
technical expertise for both factory-built and site-built housing constructed
to HUD Code and national/local building code standards. The effort will also
impart a structured and comprehensive approach that FEMA can use in evaluating
and prioritizing housing options used for future disaster recovery; a template
for designing, evaluating, and managing future housing needs.
The Research Center will also work in close collaboration with ABT Associates, a
consulting company selected by HUD to complete a concurrent 48-month social
science evaluation of AHPP housing and residents. ABT will explore issues such
as social and cultural impact, as well as evaluate occupant comfort. With the
successful completion of both evaluations, the findings of this multiple-year
study could be influential in improving the products and processes used to
construct AHPP units and in identifying planning factors necessary to employ
these housing alternatives to provide better, safer, and more cost-effective
housing solutions in the aftermath of future national disasters.
NAHB Research Center president, Michael Luzier noted the potential impact of the
project and the significance of the work to the Research Center's mission.
"This project is critical because our findings could fundamentally alter the
way the nation responds to the post-disaster housing and social needs of
American families. Helping improve housing performance is at the core of our
mission and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in this
research and the report to Congress."
In 2006, the U.S. Congress appropriated the funds to launch AHPP, giving FEMA
the ability to examine an assortment of non-traditional housing designs; more
permanent solutions for families displaced by the 2005 hurricanes in the Gulf
Coast. While serving the immediate needs of the Gulf Coast region, the AHPP
projects also offer the unique opportunity to examine ongoing housing issues.
With its partners, the Research Center will oversee detailed analysis of key
housing attributes important to the federal government in measuring the value
of its housing investment. Regular reports will be submitted to HUD throughout
the process detailing progress at each of the sites for a final report to
Congress. These include analysis of design; method of construction; code and
regulatory compliance; cost of the units; speed of delivery to the site; site
work required; speed of installation; cost of installation; initial performance
of the units at installation; ability of the units to support the needs of a
wide variety of residents; initial acceptance of the units by individual
residents, and initial acceptance of the units by the community. Factors such
as moisture, durability, sustainability, foundation performance, utility,
indoor air quality, and energy performance will also be key. To gather
comprehensive data throughout the participating states, the Research Center and
MHRA will work closely with each of the state AHPP grantees, local and federal
government officials.
10/07
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