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
Beating the Heat on the Street
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