Homelessness as a consequence of natural disasters: The case of the 2010 Haiti earthquake

Natural disasters may be defined as events that are triggered by natural phenomena or natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.). Throughout history, natural disasters have exerted a heavy toll of death and suffering and are increasing alarmingly worldwide. For example, on January 12, 2010 an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 struck Haiti about 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, the country's Capital city. In the aftermath of the disaster, over two million people become homeless within minutes or even seconds after the earthquake struck. As a consequence, these millions of homeless become vulnerable to a variety of dangerous circumstances. The chapter presents some discussion on the vulnerability of the homeless as a consequence of the earthquake. Vulnerability is understood in the broader sense and describes situations, inherent characteristics, or qualities of the communities that create the potential for harm. The approach adopted in this study is an application of the Swiss Cheese Model (SCM). This model incorporates the concept of barriers that play an increasing or 'layered' role of protection for individuals, including the homeless. A number of these layers are put forward in the context of the Haiti earthquake. Moreover, it may be argued that if implemented and working effectively these barriers may contribute to build resilience in the post-disaster stage. For example, homeless individuals will have the ability to survive and cope with the disaster with minimum impact and damage. Hazards such as those associated with crime, disease outbreaks, etc will be eliminated through understanding for role of these barriers.