Recommendations for Serving Homeless Individuals and Families in Disasters

A report released by HUD titled Send Red, Not Blue: The Homeless Resident provides recommendations to improve coordination between homeless services providers, disaster preparedness planners, and homeless residents in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. Emergency planning and services geared toward the general population may not meet the needs of homeless individuals and families, who are particularly vulnerable during disasters. The recommendations are drawn from data gathered through a literature review, key informant interviews, and focus groups conducted with homeless residents and service providers in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in Florida. These counties have extensive experience with hurricanes and disaster response.

Send Red, Not Blue: The Homeless Resident is available at: http://bit.ly/2asmyrB