By Justin Carrington
It seems like now the summer will continue getting hotter each year. With temperatures now exiting bearable states and moving into uncomfortable and even dangerous heat, many find themselves negatively affected by the consistent 90 and 100 degree days. One population affected significantly by heatwaves is the population of people experiencing homelessness. Some individuals have apartments or houses with ac to come back to after some time in the sun, but people without places to live are often exposed to dangerous temperatures for a much longer time, increasing the potential for health risks. Still, there are ways to ensure all humans are safe during moments like these, when the climate is especially punishing.
People experiencing homelessness are at higher risk for heat related injuries due to multiple factors including pre-existing conditions being exacerbated by weather, a higher likelihood of being exposed to heat, and an inability to take preventative measures due to social exclusion. All of these problems work together to create tragic situations that were in some cases preventable. Heat stroke and death are very real, scary concerns for people experiencing homelessness who have limited access to cooling centers and other air-conditioned facilities. According to Jonathan Jay, Assistant Professor of Community Health Sciences at Boston University, “Our estimates are 10 to 100 times greater than the known associations between daily heat and mortality for the general population in LA and Las Vegas”. Statistics like these reveal an obvious and upsetting discrepancy between the safety of people with homes and people without. In addition to physical health concerns, mental health concerns are also present. Worsening mental health and increased suicide rates are seen in hot weather. Truthfully, regardless of the cause, the fact is a lot of innocent people are lost during heat waves.
One long term solution is to continue advocating for affordable and safe housing. There are many ways to help one or a few individuals, but the biggest solution would be for everyone to simply have a place to live that keeps indoor temperatures at a reasonable level. With more livable low-income housing existing, this concern could be nearly wiped out entirely. For short term solutions though, there are small deeply impactful actions you can take. Portland Rescue Mission gives suggestions, including financial support of shelters, handing out frozen water, care kits, and reusable bottles, as well as hats and sunscreen. All of these could result in the immediate reduction of danger posed by the sun. If you wanted, you could mix and match and hand out multiple of these at once. Not only do care packages like these keep people healthy, it allows them to experience some humanity that is often revoked due to their status as a person without a home.
So, if you are feeling the heat, remember that there are others experiencing the pain too, and some have even less solace as a result of an inability to escape. But there is always something you can do to help, and if you yourself don’t have the time, you can always donate and support organizations like Circle of Hope, who have all the time in the world to help.
