Dealing with Disaster: Loss and Recovery after Damage to the Home

Description of research project:

As climate change progresses and climate disasters become ever more commonplace, an increasing number of homeowners will face the damage and destruction of their homes. This project examines their losses. It asks how homeowners process and place economic value on both their material and immaterial losses: material losses like the possessions in their homes, and immaterial losses like sensesof community, belonging, security, and identity. It examines homeowners’ interactions with insurance companies, government agencies, and disaster relief organizations as they recover. The project draws on interviews, legislation, insurance company policies, and news articles. All are welcome to apply; students interested in economic sociology, environmental sociology, morals and markets, climate change, housing, and insurance may be particularly interested.

Description of work:

Research assistants will play an active role in this project. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: cleaning and organizing interview transcripts; collecting and analyzing legislation, policies,and other documents; preliminary qualitative data analysis; and writing analytic memos. Training will beprovided where necessary. There is the opportunity to continue into Winter 2023.

Supervising faculty member: Greta Krippner

Graduate Student: Joyce Ho, joyceho@umich.edu (note that there is more than one Joyce Ho on campus, so make sure you have the correct e-mail).

Average hours of work per week: 6-12

Range of credit hours students can earn: 2-4

Number of positions available: 2

Application Instructions: Please fill out the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/XJ1WiV5bsJ5QoKk17

Feel free to email joyceho@umich.edu with any questions.