This book offers the first long-term comparative study of resettlement social outcomes through a case study of two Honduran resettlements built for survivors of Hurricane Mitch (1998) by two different NGOs. Although residents of each resettlement arrived from the same affected neighborhoods and have similar demographics, twelve years later one resettlement wrestles with high crime, low participation, and low social capital, while the other maintains low crime, a high degree of social cohesion, participation, and general social health. Using a multi-method approach of household surveys, interviews, ethnography, and analysis of NGO and community documents, Ryan Alaniz demonstrates that these divergent resettlement trajectories can be traced back to the type and quality of support provided by external organizations and the creation of a healthy, cohesive community culture. His findings offer important lessons and strategies that can be utilized in other places and in future resettlement policy to achieve the most effective and positive results.

Preface --Acknowledgments -- The perilous path : from resettlement to community -- The consequences of hurricane Mitch -- Community development in the context of disaster resettlement -- Measuring successful resettlement -- Suyapa -- Pino Alto -- Strangers and neighbors : the development of community -- Appendix -- Notes -- References -- Index.