Home buyout programs: recommendations for policy & practice
This policy brief outlines 13 recommendations for improving home buyout policy and practice based on studies that have spanned the past five years in the U.S. These studies have included historical analyses of home buyout programs in the U.S. and in-depth case studies of home buyout programs implemented after Hurricane Sandy, including extensive data collection with buyout program participants.
Home buyout programs are intended to facilitate the permanent relocation of residents out of areas considered to be at risk for future disasters, including the effects of climate change. Buyouts typically are federally funded, but implemented at the state or local level. The understanding of the impacts and efficacy of these programs is limited, though past research suggests that post-disaster relocation is associated with a suite of negative impacts, and that the design of buyout programs significantly affects participants’ experiences and outcomes.