The report, "Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements Sector Update- May 2012" is an update from USAID/OFDA about the sector. Recent projects supported by USAID/OFDA are highlighted, including: its largest-ever S&S sector intervention in Haiti; activities in Pakistan; baseline data development in a new region; and training and outreach. Five key lessons from the sector emerging from USAID/OFDA's experiences in Haiti are: hosting support really does work; limited resources can sometimes yield significant benefits; the "neighborhood approach" appears to be effective operational means of guiding the recovery of disaster-affected communities; supporting Diaspora in their home countries pays significant dividends; and disasters teach, and active learning efforts are needed to capture and document emerging lessons. The report, "Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements Sector Update- May 2012" is an update from USAID/OFDA about the sector. Recent projects supported by USAID/OFDA are highlighted, including: its largest-ever S&S sector intervention in Haiti; activities in Pakistan; baseline data development in a new region; and training and outreach. Five key lessons from the sector emerging from USAID/OFDA's experiences in Haiti are: hosting support really does work; limited resources can sometimes yield significant benefits; the "neighborhood approach" appears to be effective operational means of guiding the recovery of disaster-affected communities; supporting Diaspora in their home countries pays significant dividends; and disasters teach, and active learning efforts are needed to capture and document emerging lessons. The report, "Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements Sector Update- May 2012" is an update from USAID/OFDA about the sector. Recent projects supported by USAID/OFDA are highlighted, including: its largest-ever S&S sector intervention in Haiti; activities in Pakistan; baseline data development in a new region; and training and outreach. Five key lessons from the sector emerging from USAID/OFDA's experiences in Haiti are: hosting support really does work; limited resources can sometimes yield significant benefits; the "neighborhood approach" appears to be effective operational means of guiding the recovery of disaster-affected communities; supporting Diaspora in their home countries pays significant dividends; and disasters teach, and active learning efforts are needed to capture and document emerging lessons.