Floods pose a serious threat to the health and safety of residents in federally assisted housing across the country. Beyond immediate damage to people and property, flooding can lead to indoor mold growth—an environmental hazard that disproportionately affects young children, older adults, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.
Funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, this project seeks to understand how federally assisted housing providers and residents perceive flood and mold risks and to identify opportunities for more effective interventions. Through data analysis, surveys, and focus groups, we will examine how housing providers apply best practices in mitigation while centering residents’ lived experiences and insights.
Study Objectives
- Describe the potential exposure of federally assisted housing developments to flood hazards.
- Conduct a nationwide analysis of how federally assisted housing providers use flood and mold mitigation best practices.
- Understand residents’ perspectives of flood and mold risk and different mitigation strategies.
