Fluctuating household composition and stability in a displaced population

After Hurricane Katrina, over 100,000 people were displaced from their homes for at least six months after the storm. With the limited availability of permanent and affordable housing, many households were forced to move in and out of temporary settings and, eventually, some moved in with family or friends to alleviate the financial burden of constant upheaval. Conversely, the stress of the storm and ongoing displacement resulted in the break up of other family units. This fluctuation within households can have both beneficial and harmful effects. For example, additional members contributing to the household can relieve some of the economic stress; however, if the additional people do not contribute, they may compound the stress that already exists within the household. The Gulf Coast Child and Family Health study has collected annual data from 1,079 randomly selected households heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina. At three years post-Katrina, 64.4% of the households were living in unstable housing, 78.0% had not yet recovered, and 38.7% of respondents reported poor mental health. Multiple statistical methods, including hierarchical linear modeling, were used to determine the external community and household-level factors that contribute to changing household composition, and to evaluate the impact of those fluctuations on recovery and mental health. These results give housing planners a better understanding of the impact of household dynamics on the housing needs of a displaced population.