Cascading vulnerabilities and housing insecurity after disasters in Brazil
Monday, July 20, 2026, 11:00 AM
Session: SOC Poster Session (Overflow) (In-person)
Recent disasters in Brazil have increasingly displaced vulnerable populations, triggering cascading effects that extend beyond the initial loss of housing. Rather than isolated events, disasters interact with pre-existing vulnerabilities, shaping dynamic trajectories of housing insecurity. This study aims to better understand these mechanisms and identify potential leverage points for intervention. Adopting a system dynamics perspective, the research develops a causal loop diagram (CLD) based on a qualitative, grounded theory-inspired approach, drawing on a structured review of the literature. The CLD is intended to map key interactions and feedback structures linking disasters, displacement, and vulnerability, supporting the analysis of cascading processes and the identification of potential leverage points. As a work in progress, the study focuses on building a coherent conceptual representation of the problem to inform subsequent analysis.
Presenters:
Julia Marques Silva,
Vinicius Picanço Rodrigues