Cash and shelter
The International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has a long history of using Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) to support people affected by crisis to meet their shelter and settlement needs. Examples include vouchers to support people to access hostels in a migration crisis, cash as part of an owner-driven shelter reconstruction programme, and cash for winterisation support to allow people to access insulation materials. Below you can find out more about the work of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in this field, accessing different resources related to cash and shelter.
© Alanah Torralba/ IFRC
Rental Assistance is a shelter programming option particularly suited to urban contexts. IFRC has recently been developing resources on this and they can be accessed on this page dedicated to:
Key resources
- IFRC – Shelter Research Unit (SRU): Shelters, Settlements and Cash: A manual on Cash and Voucher Assistance
- A wide range of resources can be found on the Global Shelter Cluster page dedicated to Shelter and Cash Assistance.
- An half-day cash and shelter training module, to support training delivery to develop programme staff when selecting cash as a potential response tool in emergency shelter programmes.
- Market Based Programming (MBP) and Shelter Guidance Note: guidance that offers practitioners a short overview of Market-Based Programming and it’s potential application in humanitarian shelter programming.
7 August 2025
Cash for Shelter Repair – Earthquake Recovery 2025
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VideoOrganization:
Vanuatu Red Cross SocietyThis film captures the Vanuatu Red Cross Society’s Cash for Shelter Repair initiative, part of the ongoing response to the December 17, 2024 earthquake. Through this program, affected households received…
13 April 2023
Cash Assistance in Yemen: Mohammed and Nima’s stories
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VideoOrganization:
British Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, Yemen Red CrescentCash assistance is considered one of the most effective way of addressing the variety of needs of affected people, as it promotes the freedom to choose and determine their own…
5 January 2023
Stories of Change: Cash stories from The Philippines
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Case studyOrganization:
Philippine Red CrossStories of Change: Cash stories from the Philippines Cash Working Group (PCWG) provides insight into the Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) of the Philippines Red Cross Society, particularly as a modality…
14 November 2022
Stories of Change: Cash Case Stories from The Philippines
Type:
Case studyOrganization:
PCWG, Philippine Red Cross, WFPStories of Change: Cash stories from the Philippines Cash Working Group (PCWG) provides insight into the Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) of various humanitarian organisations, including Philippines RC, particularly as a…
19 June 2021
Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Response 2019-2021
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Case studyOrganization:
Bahamas Red Cross, IFRCThis case study highlights the use of multi-purpose cash (MPC), rental assistance and shelter repairs (using cash and voucher assistance) to address shelter needs caused by Hurricane Dorian that made…
14 July 2020
Step-by-step guide for rental assistance to people affected by crisis
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GuidanceOrganization:
IFRCThe objective of this step-by-step guide is to provide a framework for how to plan, design and implement a successful rental assistance programme. Examples and tools have also been included to practically illustrate and support successful programme delivery.
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