Factors Influencing Housing Satisfaction in Post-Disaster Resettlement: A Case of Nepal

Abstract

Housing satisfaction, crucial for sustainable post-disaster resettlement housing, has received limited attention in research. This study aimed to identify households’ perceived importance of housing satisfaction factors and their significance in post-disaster resettlement housing programs. Focusing on Nepal’s Panipokhari Integrated Settlement after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, it identified relatively significant housing satisfaction factors using mean satisfaction scores, the relative importance index, and Spearman rank correlation. The data were derived from a structured questionnaire survey, complemented by field observations, measurement, and semi-structured qualitative interviews that support the findings. The study found key housing satisfaction factors as need-based housing design (r = 0.70), layout (r = 0.74), modification flexibility (r = 0.70), utility spaces such as kitchen gardens and cattle sheds (r = 0.67), house completeness (r = 0.80), thermal comfort (r = 0.63), and social and cultural aspects such as traditional hearths (r = 0.72) and spaces for rituals and events (r = 0.77). The study concluded that the integration of these factors in the policy-making, planning, and design is important for successful resettlement housing outcomes in regions with comparable socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. The study has practical significance and, thus, will help policy-makers, implementers, and researchers aiming for successful and sustainable resettlement outcomes.

Fostering Well-Being in Resettled Communities: Cultivating Cultural Resilience and Sustainable Development in Resettlement Caused by Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project, Pakistan

“…Cultural legacies serve as more than sources of pride and identity; they also enhance the general well-being of individuals and communities. Following the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study highlights the logic of addressing concerns about poverty alleviation, gender parity, renewable energy, and community advancement [21], and the need to utilize growth to accomplish these objectives, rather than perceiving it as an obstacle. Including individuals in decision-making is a moral obligation and a pragmatic strategy for achieving sustainable development and satisfaction [22].…”