Manufactured Housing: A Proven Solution in Times of Disaster

When disaster strikes, the most urgent need is shelter. Wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes can displace thousands of families overnight, leaving communities searching for safe, immediate housing options. While rebuilding permanent housing can take years, manufactured and modular homes have repeatedly proven to be a practical, scalable solution during moments of crisis.

The Scale of the Challenge and How to Solve It

In 2024 alone, more than four million Americans were displaced by natural disasters. Over the past decade, that number climbs to more than nine million. From the wildfires in California and Maui to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, the destruction of homes is not only a human tragedy but also a logistical crisis for state and federal agencies tasked with recovery.

But after the Maui wildfires, an interim-solution was found: temporary modular homes for displaced Americans.

Unlike site-built homes that take months to construct, manufactured homes are built in factories and delivered to communities ready for installation. This allows them to be deployed in weeks, giving families a stable place to live while recovery efforts are underway.

Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, FEMA turned to manufactured housing units to house thousands of displaced families across Texas. More recently, in the aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires, Hawaii launched a $185 million program to deliver hundreds of factory-built homes to house more than 1,500 residents. These examples show how manufactured housing provides not just temporary shelter, but dignity and stability during a time of deep uncertainty.

Manufactured housing is not the final answer for disaster recovery, but it is often the bridge that allows families to regain stability. FEMA typically permits these units to remain in place for up to 18 months, giving communities breathing room to rebuild. And as the Maui case demonstrates, factory-built homes can also transition into permanent housing solutions, creating new neighborhoods that last well beyond the crisis.

Looking ahead, the quick delivery of manufactured and modular homes could play a critical role in mitigating the impacts of future disasters. By pre-positioning supply chains, streamlining installation processes, and coordinating with local governments, entire neighborhoods could be restored in a matter of weeks rather than years. This forward-thinking approach would not only provide shelter but also accelerate economic recovery, restore community cohesion, and reduce the long-term costs of displacement for American families.

Sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 disaster displacement data
• FEMA Office of Inspector General, Direct Housing Assistance After Disasters (2020)
• Washington Post, coverage of Maui wildfire recovery housing (2025)
• Urban Institute, Building Climate-Resilient Manufactured Housing Stock (2025)