Post-tsunami housing resident satisfaction in Aceh

Following the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, many aid agencies constructed houses. At that time there was much discussion regarding housing construction priorities and approaches. To quantify the perspectives and satisfaction of post-tsunami housing residents, individuals were surveyed in 30%(361/1,222) of Oxfam-funded houses in Aceh. The survey revealed that residents' satisfaction was highly correlated with adequate access to water, perceptions of improved livelihoods and homeowner consultations during planning and construction, as well as actual housing construction quality. Because the latter improved over time, residents who moved into their houses later tended to be more satisfied, even though they had to wait longer. Additionally, while it is imperative that residents are engaged in the construction process, it is not necessary to insist that residents participate directly in construction, particularly if participation will compromise construction quality. That consultation process should be clear regarding what expectations can be met.