Evaluation of housing policies for beneficiaries within the scope of post-disaster improvement studies

This study is in the form of an interview with 14 beneficiaries over the age of 18 who settled in a housing by choosing one of the settlement methods of Assistance to Home Builders, Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ), and Public Housing (tendered) as a part of the recovery phase, and aims to assess their experiences in the post-disaster settlement process using the phenomenological qualitative research design. Within the study, an interview form containing comprehensive questions about demographic/general information, and housing experience was created. The voluntary and face-to-face interviews were audio-recorded. The decoded data were then analysed using the MAXQDA 2020 qualitative data analysis program and 3 themes, 9 categories, and 65 codes were determined. In the study, it was found that there is a need to restructure legislation, act according to the needs of citizens, inform and guide the public, follow the resettlement process, and provide the beneficiaries with different housing options, housing benefits, and temporary housing. It was also found that the beneficiaries are left alone in the process and feel fear and panic, cannot adapt to the environment due to location change, face economic difficulties as they earn their living in the village, resettlement takes long, financial arrangements are insufficient, and financial situation plays an effective role in method preference. In conclusion, it is believed that the active participation of the beneficiaries and the regulation of the policies that address the needs and expectations can positively contribute to the effectiveness and applicability of disaster settlement policies.