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Temporary Displacement

The second thing that happens when there is a climate -related emergency is that people are displaced for varying lengths of time.  For some this can be only short term if their home is relatively undamaged – once the emergency is over they may be able to quickly return while any repairs are done.  However, where their home has suffered extensive damage they could need alternative accommodation for lengthy periods – months and often years – or in the case of tenants, need to break their lease and move permanently. 

Row of holiday cabins.

The length of displacement can mean that people need more than just safe short-term shelter – they need a place they can call home for the duration.  If their short-term shelter was in an evacuation centre, this is likely to close soon after the event.  If they are sheltering with family or friends, they may be overcrowded or may wear out their welcome well before they can return home.  This has a number impacts on homelessness.

  • The need of people to relocate puts extra pressure on the rental market at a time when housing has been taken out of that market, leading to lack of availability.

  • For tenants whose rental has been affected and who are looking for a new long-term home, they can find themselves in competition with people who have more resources seeking to rent temporarily while the home they own is repaired. 

  • This can also flow on to other people in the rental market who are not directly affected by the emergency – if they lose their tenancy for an unrelated reason it can be harder for them to find a new one.

  • All of this can place immense strain on homelessness services, who struggle to find homes for their clients at the best of times.  They can find that their normal avenues (friendly real estate agents, caravan parks, boarding houses) are suddenly less available after the influx of displaced households.  This situation can go on long after the emergency is over and most residents have gone back to their normal lives because it can take years for the full rebuild to take place.

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