Cypress CDC

Cypress Community Development Corp. is a not-for-profit housing development company specializing in creating innovative solutions for disaster recovery and workforce housing. Our work focuses on the development of Missing Middle Housing types, such as cottages, duplexes, townhomes, multiplexes, and accessory dwelling units in Opportunity Zones following natural disasters.

The concept home, designed by Katrina Cottage designer Marianne Cusato, addresses three key housing issues:

1. Affordable resiliency by design
2. Redefining prefab construction
3. Reforming federal disaster housing policy

Much like the Katrina Cottage spurred a revision to the Stafford Act in 2006, allowing FEMA to build permanent housing instead of hauling trailers, this concept home aims to spark a much-needed discussion surrounding the role of accessory dwelling units as a disaster response strategy as well as an affordable housing solution.

This house utilizes carbon-neutral building technologies and materials that reduce the cost of construction and ownership. It is designed to maximize the reach of disaster response funds and to be stockpiled for rapid deployment to disaster zones around the country.

Overall, this accessory dwelling unit serves to become a part of the long term solution to disaster recovery and affordable housing. As zoning laws change rapidly to allow such structures, they are becoming more welcomed in communities than the temporary solutions which came before – solutions prone to health hazards and disrepair.

To learn more about the concept home, visit talkabouthousing.com.

Website: cypresscdc.com