Disasters can wipe out affordable housing forever unless communities plan ahead – that loss hurts the economy

Slow recovery for vulnerable households can slow the recovery of the entire community. Scott Olson/Getty Images

The tornadoes and wildfires that devastated communities from Kentucky to Colorado in the final weeks of 2021 left thousands of people displaced or homeless. For many of them, it will be months if not years before their homes are rebuilt.

That’s especially hard on low-income residents.