Mental Health After Natural Disasters

 

Mental health after natural disasters in the Philippines is something that deserves a lot more attention because many people focus only on the physical damage and forget about the emotional effects disasters can leave behind. The picture above shows a community gathering together after a disaster while supplies are being handed out. Even though the image shows people receiving help, you can also see the stress, uncertainty, and exhaustion on many of their faces. In the Philippines, strong typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters happen very often, and for many families, this means constantly living with fear and uncertainty. Some people lose their homes, belongings, jobs, schools, or even family members within only a short amount of time. Children especially can become anxious or scared after experiencing major storms, heavy flooding, evacuation centers, or seeing their communities destroyed. Even after the floodwaters go down or homes are rebuilt, the emotional effects can stay with people for a very long time.

One thing that makes this issue difficult is that mental health is still not always openly discussed in many communities. After disasters happen, people are usually expected to focus immediately on survival, rebuilding, finding work again, or helping their families. Because of this, emotional struggles are often pushed to the side. Many people may feel stress, sadness, fear, hopelessness, or trauma but never fully talk about it because they are trying to stay strong for others around them. Some families may also not have access to mental health support, counseling, healthcare, or enough financial stability to recover comfortably after disasters happen. When disasters continue happening year after year, it can create emotional exhaustion and make people constantly worry about when the next storm will come.

At the same time, disasters can also show how important community support is during difficult situations. In many parts of the Philippines, communities come together to help each other by sharing food, clothing, donations, shelter, and emotional support. Volunteers, neighbors, churches, schools, and local organizations often step in to help families recover however they can. The image above reflects that sense of community because even during difficult situations, people are still trying to support one another. Having strong community connections can make a huge difference in helping people emotionally recover after traumatic events. Sometimes simply knowing that other people care and are willing to help can give families hope during overwhelming situations.

Climate change has also made many people more concerned about the future because storms are becoming stronger and weather patterns are becoming less predictable over time. This means that mental health and environmental issues are becoming more connected. People are not only dealing with the damage happening now, but also the fear of future disasters continuing to affect their lives. Families living in poorer or more vulnerable areas are usually impacted the hardest because they may not have strong housing, savings, transportation, or enough resources to recover quickly. This can create even more stress and emotional pressure over time.

Overall, mental health after natural disasters is an issue that should be taken more seriously because disasters affect much more than buildings and roads. They affect people emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially long after the event is over. Raising awareness about these emotional effects is important because recovery is not only about rebuilding homes, but also about helping people feel safe, supported, and hopeful again after going through extremely difficult experiences.

Natural Disaster in the Philippines

Natural disasters in the Philippines have a huge impact on both people and the environment, especially because the country experiences many typhoons, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides every year. Strong storms and flooding can destroy homes, schools, businesses, roads, and entire communities within only a short amount of time. The image above is a good example of how serious flooding can become in some areas. Entire neighborhoods can end up underwater, forcing families to leave their homes, lose important belongings, and struggle to find safe places to stay. Even after the flooding goes away, many people are still left dealing with damage, stress, financial problems, and the long process of rebuilding their lives.

One thing that makes this issue especially important is that natural disasters do not affect everyone equally. Poorer communities are usually hit the hardest because they may not have strong housing, emergency supplies, transportation, or enough resources to recover quickly after disasters happen. Some families may lose almost everything they have and still be expected to continue working, going to school, or supporting their families while trying to rebuild at the same time. In many situations, people are forced to focus more on survival than long-term recovery because disasters happen so often. This creates emotional stress and uncertainty, especially for children and families who constantly worry about when the next storm or flood will happen.

The Philippines is also especially vulnerable because of its geography and location near the Pacific Ocean, where many typhoons form. Climate change has made many people more concerned about stronger storms, rising sea levels, heavier rainfall, and more unpredictable weather patterns over time. Because of this, environmental problems are also becoming human and social problems. Natural disasters can affect people’s mental health, education, jobs, healthcare, and overall quality of life. Families may be displaced from their homes for long periods of time, and students may miss school because buildings are damaged or transportation becomes difficult after flooding.

At the same time, natural disasters can also show how strong communities can be during difficult situations. Many people in the Philippines rely heavily on teamwork, local support systems, volunteers, donations, and community aid after disasters happen. Neighbors often help each other clean flooded areas, share food and supplies, and support families who lost their homes or belongings. These moments show how important community connection and communication can be during emergencies. The way information is shared also matters because warnings, education, and awareness can influence how people prepare for disasters and respond to dangerous situations.

Overall, natural disasters in the Philippines are not just environmental events. They affect people emotionally, physically, socially, and financially for a long time after the disaster is over. The issue connects to climate change, environmental justice, poverty, and community resilience all at the same time. Raising awareness about these disasters is important because it helps people better understand the real human impact behind the images and news stories people see online.

An Invisible Lifeline- Phone Charging While Homeless

Kyndness Packs -Kits and photo by: Ariah Schugat

 We live in a time where much of our lives are spent online or on our phones: conducting work, school, legal and financial affairs, viewing online news, and connecting through social media, text and video chat, voice calls and entertainment. Many of us are glued to or addicted to our devices, and may have trouble  not checking them, for even a half hour or hour! Our growing psychological dependence on our devices makes sense given as our society grows more isolated and digitally driven. Having access to a smartphone (or even a basic phone at bare minimum) can act as a practical and social lifeline.

Now imagine if your access to a phone or devices became severely limited or cut off completely. Imagine if you were homeless. How restricted would you feel? How much more isolated? We have become so accustomed to our devices, we may not realize what a privilege it is to have them, and  easy access to Wi-Fi and the means to keep them charged. A lack of access to a charged phone makes it more difficult to communicate with family and friends, employers, food, medical and housing resources and legal help and can result in missed opportunities needed to break free of homelessness.

The 2025 biennial point-in-time count for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties found that 12,034 people were experiencing homelessness (University Communications, 2025). 48% of that number was entirely unsheltered. This is a 61% increase from the last PIT count in 2023. Although this cannot tell us how many of these individuals had a cellphone, but it can tell us that there is a need.

Oregon Lifeline can provide free and discounted service and a sim card to clients who qualify and who can obtain an unlocked compatible phone. So, if one is homeless and still manages to have a phone, what next? For charging, one has options, but they remain limited- in public places, like shelters, libraries, community centers, some cafes and the occasional outlet that can be found in public parks, some transit stations, and outside businesses. Often, their use is restricted to business and daylight hours, and time limited, with restrictions against loitering.

I believe we can do better, and I would implore everyone to think of our houseless neighbors struggling to stay connected and put our heads together to think of solutions to help with this issue. More public outlets available after hours? Portable phone charging station pop-ups? Donations of charging banks or supplies?

For inspiration, I will leave you with this model: In Ann Arbor Michigan, a former homeless woman Ariah Schugat created phone charging kits to give to homeless people, as she has experienced the difficulty of keeping her phone charged while homeless. Her kits include individual baggies that contain alcohol prep pads, a battery pack, universal charging cords, and a charging base. Perhaps something like this could be possible here? If not, what could be? It may not seem like much, but something as simple as a charged phone could prove essential to help a houseless individual on their path out of homelessness.

References:

Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV. (2021, February 15). Phone charging kits aim to keep homeless population connected [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgDVX_8OZVs

University Communications (2025, November 4). PSU homelessness and research and action collaborative releases the 2025 point in time count. Portland State University. https://www.pdx.edu/news/psu-homelessness-research-and-action-collaborative-releases-2025-tri-county-point-time-count

No Address, Means No Opportunities

No Address, Means No Opportunities

When most people think about homelessness, they usually think about not having a place to sleep for the night. But something that's easily just as important is that homelessness affects way more than just housing for people. A lot of modern life depends on having a physical address, and without one, even basic things become difficult for many. Thing's that are easy for many of us, can prove to be extremely hard for other's without those resources.

Applying for jobs is one of many examples. Most jobs ask for an address, a reliable phone number, and a stable way to contact you throughout the week. Even if someone is really motivated and trying to improve their situation, it becomes a lot harder when employers have nowhere to send information or don’t see you as reliable because of your living situation. Missing one letter, a phone call, or one email can completely shut down an opportunity before someone even gets a chance.

I’ve also personally known many people who struggled with homelessness, and one thing that stood out to me was how many basic things most of us take for granted suddenly become major obstacles. Something as simple as charging a phone and finding internet access, or protecting important documents from the weather becomes a struggle most of us don't understand. Especially in places like Portland where the weather can constantly change, being exposed to the elements while also trying to hold a job or rebuild your life makes everything even harder.

A lot of people might only see homelessness at the surface level but they don’t always see the invisible systems working against people behind the scenes. Without a physical address to mail to, it becomes significantly harder to receive mail for opportunities, apply for benefits, replace government IDs, or even stay connected to opportunities that would help change their situations. Over time all those smaller barriers build on each other and make escaping homelessness much more difficult than people realize. A lot of modern society is built around the assumption that everyone has a stable home with an address that they can rely on to give them opportunities. Once someone loses access to that, they don’t just lose housing, they actually slowly lose access to the systems that help people move forward in life and help make change. Effectively shutting them out from society and its opportunities.

If you want to learn more about the many hidden barriers people experiencing homelessness face then click here to learn more!:

https://my.neighbor.org/little-known-barriers-homeless-experience/?srsltid=AfmBOoptmXfpFsu7jwWISoT_UM3CNOdzTID8GvcPIB_zV6KEe6eXoXCd

https://regenbrampton.com/unknown-challenges-the-homeless-face/

Cool for the Summer: The Disproportionate Dangers of the Summer Heat

With summer approaching, people are preparing for the sweltering heat by purchasing fans, stocking up on water, preparing AC units, and rescheduling outdoor activities for cooler times of the day. The summer heat is not a major concern for many, but for those experiencing homelessness, new challenges arise on top of preexisting ones.

Long-term exposure to high temperatures affects everyone, but it disproportionately endangers those who experience homelessness, housing insecurity, and lack air conditioning in their homes. According to Heat.gov, this population is more at risk from heat and heat-related illness due to a variety of factors, such as mental health conditions, substance abuse, chronic health issues, dehydration, and disabilities. The heat can significantly worsen these conditions as well. In addition, accessing medical help during this hot season can be difficult for these individuals due to distance, a lack of transportation, or financial difficulties. Heat can significantly spoil food faster since bacteria multiply faster under warmer temperatures, posing a health risk and further limiting people’s access to resources they already have with them.

Portland is an urban heat island, which refers to cities that tend to get warmer (especially during the summer) than surrounding urban areas. Darker surfaces, such as asphalt roads and concrete sidewalks, absorb more light and heat from the sun, making them much warmer than other surfaces and materials. Fortunately, Portland’s vegetation provides shade to cool off the city and its inhabitants. The only issue is that sweeps have been increasing, which forcibly displaces the homeless population from one spot to another, breaking up communities and preventing them from being able to support one another. These sweeps do not mean that people can simply move to a shelter. There could be limited access/available space, a lack of trust, mobility challenges, and curfews that make it extremely difficult for them to be a reliable place to stay cool and away from the heat.

So, how can people stay cool if none of these options are viable?

Some suggestions include a buddy/support system, avoiding strenuous activities during the hottest hours of the day, staying in shaded areas, wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that covers your skin, and knowing where to find local cooling centers. These suggestions may not be easy to implement for some individuals, which is why the city needs to improve at reducing heat risk not only for the homeless communities, but for the rest of the city, too. Instead of sweeping homeless communities, the city should open more accessible shelters and cooling centers, remove curfews, and remove restrictions that create more barriers to staying at these shelters. 

The community can help too. Communicate with each other, build trust, relay information, and work with others to provide food, water, and other resources to those in need. The sun’s heat indiscriminately affects everyone, but it’s the varying access to resources, shelter, cooling alternatives, and support that especially endangers people experiencing homelessness.

To learn more, click on these resources:

Homeless Portlanders, Service Providers Prepare for Heat

Help for When it's Hot

Beating the Heat on the Street

Landfills & Leftovers: Food or Garbage?

Leftovers. Everyone loves them, until their fridge is ridden with too much alfredo pasta for their own good.. 

Jokes aside, food waste is much more than just discarding your perfectly good leftovers. The United States, alone, throws away 92 billion TONS of food each year. This food comes from consumers in their homes, poor business practices, overproduction, expiration, and various parts of the food supply chain. According

to moveforhunger.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the issue of hunger and food waste:

American consumers, businesses, and farms spend $218 billion, or 1.3% of their gross domestic product,

growing, processing, and disposing of food that is never eaten. On average, businesses are taking a $74

billion loss on food waste every year”. 

This means in America alone there are billions of dollars worth of food wasted that could be redistributed

or otherwise re-used, which would as a result save the American economy billions of dollars on actually

processing their food waste. If overproduction is an issue, we need to scale back the amount of product we

buy for our businesses and homes if we know it’s too much. Otherwise, there should be infrastructure in

place in order to keep as much nutritious food on hand as possible, in order to minimize the amount of

waste produced. 

What does this mean for homelessness? It means that in addition to scaling back our production and

consumption, we need to have systems in place for people who can’t buy food, and for food that doesn’t

have people to eat it. There are already soup kitchens, food pantries, food drives, government assistance,

missions, and things like that which designate a place for people to go to who need immediate help with

things like food and other necessities. However, this doesn’t address the glaring issue of wasted food.

We could increase our number of soup kitchens 100 fold, and actually see an increase in food waste and

overall use of product. We should incentivize people to donate their unused food instead of throwing it

away. Avoiding food waste benefits the buyer, the seller, garbage collectors, and people who need food.

Public infrastructure tied to food would create more jobs and reduce our food waste, reserving more

resources for those who need them.

In the meantime, before the United States and local communities develop the optimal infrastructure to

keep our food out of landfills, we as individuals, families, and businesses can commit to doing our best to

reduce food waste. This means saving the leftovers, freezing them, and never throwing food away.

If you don’t want it, find someone else who wants it. If no one else wants it, compost it. If you truly can’t

get rid of your unwanted food, ask yourself, should I have bought this much food in the first place?

We can plan ahead and not over-produce. We can decide to use our freezers to store food for our future,

and unused food. We can also decide to save our ‘expired’ food (which is usually not), mis-shapen food,

and otherwise undesirable food for those who need it. We can decide to make a weekly or biweekly trip to

the soup kitchen. We have to make small choices in order to reduce our food waste. These choices will

hopefully ensure that more houseless individuals and people in need can access food, instead of being

turned away due to the lack of food. 

Soup kitchens should be abundant with food and landfills should be filled with garbage, not food.

The Environmental Impact of Food Waste

New Research Reveals Frozen Food’s Role in Reducing Food Waste

Charging Stations: A Lifeline for Some

 

 

Most of us hope to spend our elder years in comfort. It’s a difficult reality that many of the unhoused in our society are seniors, and that any of us could face the same fate if we experience the right amount of wrong circumstances. Our culture often paints homelessness as a personal or moral failing, and as such, there can be a strong resistance to providing basic services to those living on the streets. But everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and kindness, no matter their situation. This is not what happened with a Portland resident who was charged with theft for simply trying to charge her cell phone in public.  
 
It’s painful to imagine the need for someone to avoid certain areas of town where she once walked safely with her kids and grandkids. That fear of harassment from police officers and others could be such an unwelcome change as to warrant this avoidance. Yet that was the experience of one woman, who has chosen to remain nameless, living on the streets of Portland and waiting to be approved for affordable housing. Her disability payments, necessitated by muscular dystrophy, were too low to afford anything else. After joining a homeless peer charging their cell phone using an outlet on a sidewalk planter box, both her and her companion were charged with third-degree theft of services, a Class C misdemeanor. Neither of them realized this was a private outlet belonging to the business next to the planter box, nor did they realize this could be considered a crime. They were simply trying their best to survive in a bad situation. 

There are options out there for people with low or no income to get a free phone. But the constant need to keep that device charged is a struggle many wouldn’t think about. A phone is not a luxury item; it is a vital tool that connects people with what they need to survive and to better their lives. A phone enables one to apply for jobs, for housing, and for food stamps. A phone lets people talk to their loved ones. Being able to call for help can be a necessary lifeline for women in dangerous situations. Access to a charged cell phone is a basic level of quality of life that everyone should have. 

It is a stain on any society that a grandmother would be forced to live on the streets for any reason, much less for being on disability. The very least that could be offered is an easy way to charge their phone. Luckily the DA ended up dropping this specific case the night before her trial, being convicted could have jeopardized her chances at being approved for housing. 

The fact is that all of us could end up in her shoes, so we owe it to ourselves and each other to ask our cities to provide easy and free charging access to all members of society. There are companies like GrowCharge that design and build solar charging stations, including a public bench design, similar to those already in use in Central Park and Stanford University. Hospitality Hub, a nonprofit in Memphis, Tennessee, is a public space that offers amenities like cell phone charging to anyone who needs it. The options are there, we just need to prioritize them.  

To read more about how important a charged cell phone is for those experiencing homelessness, the Portland woman charged with theft, or different options for charging stations, check out the links below. 

Cellphones Are a Lifeline for Unhoused People—But Barriers Abound Shelterforce 

Homeless phone-charging “thief” wanted security - Street Roots

Solar Phone Charging Stations For Cities 

Design public space for homeless people? This Memphis nonprofit did - Street Roots