Eighty percent of Indonesia is prone to earthquakes, and it is estimated that 64 percent of the country’s population will live in one by 2055. Earthquakes were responsible for nearly half of the casualties in disasters in Indonesia, which were dominated by the housing sector. Over forty percent of households in Indonesia are currently living in substandard housing. Meanwhile, studies show that seismic strengthening to vulnerable houses is a critical and cost-efficient step to prevent losses in earthquakes.

Despite experiencing frequent earthquakes and substantial losses due to poorly built housing, the attention to improve seismic resilience of housing stock remains low in Indonesia. The research explores the barriers that hinder such initiative and alternatives to overcome those. The research examines policy documents, programs, and seismic retrofitting initiatives in other countries. The analysis discusses the barriers and potentials to advance home strengthening through three key lenses: demand and supply side, and regulatory framework.