User involvement in housing recovery after typhoon Haiyan from a capability perspective

Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines on 8th November 2013 destroying more than 1 million houses and affecting mostly the poor. This paper discusses user involvement in housing recovery from a capability perspective. The paper also analyses possibilities for extension of the housing solutions. Based on the Sphere handbook and the theoretical framework, a Model for user involvement in evolutionary housing recovery has been developed and applied to analyse empirical data from two qualitative case studies in the cities of Tanauan and Ormoc. Prospective users that have attained different opportunities and choices through the projects whilst being actively involved in some stages of the process seem to have enhanced capacities such as self-construction skills, self-esteem, leadership and community organizing. Users were not involved or only consulted during the planning and design stage, which derived in generic housing lacking qualities for extension. The findings from both case studies support the theoretical construct underlying the model. The implications of the model is that it can be applied to design, carry out or assess housing recovery processes in other developing contexts.