Homelessness and Disaster in Boulder, Colorado

• In Event: 084 - Section on Inequality, Poverty and Mobility Paper Session. Extreme Poverty

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to shed light on the distinctive experiences and needs of a population that is poorly understood, particularly with respect to disasters and their effects. Although homeless populations are referred to in studies of disaster vulnerability, discussions of their unique vulnerabilities and experiences are generally referred to tangentially. Further, while studies of homelessness have occurred in sociological research more broadly, pre-disaster homelessness has not shared a similar weight of attention in disaster studies. This project is exploratory in nature and seeks to contribute to knowledge on homelessness and disaster through an examination of the unique vulnerabilities, experiences, and recoveries of pre-disaster homeless individuals during and following the 2013 Boulder floods. The research draws on participant observation and interview data with staff members from organizations that serve the homeless, public officials, and homeless individuals who were present during the floods in order to gain an understanding of their flood experiences and recovery. Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and the findings discussed thus far are preliminary. Therefore, this paper serves as a foundational piece for future analysis and presentation of findings once the project is completed.

Author

• Jamie Vickery, University of Colorado