ReliefWeb

Background

The upgrade and rehabilitation of substandard buildings to provide capacity for sheltering displaced and vulnerable people has been ongoing in Lebanon since 2007, and is a significant part of the shelter sector’s response to the Syria crisis. Both empty buildings and buildings occupied by vulnerable people can be addressed. Rehabilitation is typically implemented in exchange for a period of reduced or free rent. This creates greater security of tenure and reduces rental expenditure.

As well as providing shelter for beneficiaries, building owners benefit from an economic asset at the end of a project, and refugee and local rent-payers benefit from additional units being added to the housing stock, mitigating against rent inflation.

The creativity and adaptability of agencies working in different social and economic contexts in Lebanon is a sectoral strength, however the standardisation of principles and minimum shelter standards is required to ensure a quality service to beneficiaries.

This document is a product of the agencies taking part in a Temporary Technical Committee on building rehabilitation. Small Shelter Units (SSUs) are (usually) privately owned unfinished or otherwise substandard buildings than have been brought to minimum shelter standards in order to accommodate between 1 and 6 households.