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4.13 Support to host families & communities

This can be either for the host or hosted family, or both and may include:

  • Distribution of household items , materials and/or shelter kits that allow the families to create more habitable space and improved conditions for privacy
  • Housing upgrades to improve comfort, safety and privacy
  • Rent-subsidies or cash-assistance to compensate for increased utility fees or for lost income-generating assets

Care should be taken to ensure equal support to both hosting and hosted communities and a ‘do no harm’ approach to minimise social tensions. The influx of displaced populations to densely populated areas can exacerbate the existing vulnerabilities of the host communities and lead to heightened social tensions due to overpopulation, lack of or limited access to adequate health/education facilities, strain on already deteriorated or substandard public services (water, sanitation, electricity etc.) – particularly in urban contexts. Integrated approaches for shelter, WASH, livelihoods support and protection are increasingly endorsed by Global Shelter Cluster leads and partners as a best practice in urban specific responses when assisting the host communities and displaced populations. These interventions may include upgrading of basic services and WASH systems, provision of vocational training and other forms of livelihoods support to increase access to income-generating opportunities.

For more on host community support see: