Abstract

The hardships faced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, who were compelled to leave cities en masse at the start of lockdowns, highlight the necessity of affordable housing for citizens displaced by natural calamities, climate-induced disasters and internal conflict/violence (referred to here as ‘forced migrants’). National housing policies, State laws and city-specific zoning plans are typically devised in conditions of relative stability. Consequently, resources and political attention often shift away from the affordable housing sector for immediate, ad-hoc disaster responses and recovery efforts. This shift disproportionately affects urban areas, which tend to attract or repel forced migrants during such crises.