新地町の竹沢さつ子さんは、津波で家を失い、仮設住宅に住んでいたが、数か月前に赤十字の海外救援金の支援で建設された被災高齢者住宅に入居した。仮設住宅では壁も薄く、毎朝鳴らす仏壇の鐘の音が隣に聞こえてしまったが、新しい住宅はその心配も不要で、快適で安心して暮らせると語る。このような住宅を建設する際に、建設用地を決定、取得するためのコミュニティーとの調整に時間がかかり、これが復興のプロセスを遅くする主たる要因になっている。役場の担当者は、このような住宅は必要だが、今後は介護やケアを行う施設も必要になると語っている。
Ms. Satsuko Takezawa from Shinchi Town lost her home that was washed out by the tsunami and lived in a temporary housing. A few months ago, she moved to a public housing for affected elderly people built by assistance from Red Cross international donation. Back at the temporary housing, the sound of a small bell she used to cling every morning during a Buddhist prayer was transmitted to her neighbors' units because the wall was thin. She says that she no longer needs to be worried about that at a new housing and she can live a comfortable life. To construct this kind of housing, it takes time to decide which land should be used and to coordinate acquisition of the land with communities, which is one of the main reasons for delay in the reconstruction process. The municipality officials say that this kind of housing is certainly necessary but facilities for nursing and care will also be needed.