"Extreme heat is the deadliest climate impact and is colliding with the nation's long-standing shortage in safe, affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes, said Zoe Middleton, a co-author of the analysis and associate director for just climate resilience at the Union of Concerned Scientists. As policymakers grapple with how to address the worsening climate and housing crises, they must take the health threat of extreme heat seriously by boosting investments in home weatherization, energy bill assistance and climate-resilient affordable housing."
"Researchers analyzed each county's exposure to National Weather Service heat alerts between May and October 2024, which the group refers to as Danger Season because it represents the period when climate-fueled weather extremes are most severe in the United States. The analysis found that nearly all residents in affordable housing experienced at least seven days of extreme heat alerts in 2024, while nearly half endured 21 or more days of warnings."
"The largest shares of affected units were located in the Northeast and Southeast with Texas, California and New York accounting for the greatest number of exposed homes. Texas, New York, California, Florida and Ohio had the highest numbers of affordable homes exposed to one or more weeks of heat alerts. Texas, California, New York, New Jersey and Louisiana saw the most homes facing three or more weeks of extreme heat warnings."
"Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida and New York had the highest percentages of households headed by people of color that experienced heat alerts. The report noted that people of color face disproportionate risks from heat exposure, even when accounting for their higher representation in affordable housing overall. Roughly half of all public and project-based affordable housing units exposed to at least one week of heat alerts were headed by a person of color."
Extreme heat intersects with a persistent shortage of safe, affordable housing for the lowest-income households, increasing health risks. Between May and October 2024 nearly all affordable-housing residents experienced at least seven days of National Weather Service heat alerts, and nearly half faced 21 or more days. A large share of affected units are in the Northeast and Southeast, with Texas, California and New York accounting for the most exposed homes. Households headed by people of color face disproportionate heat risks, and many public and project-based affordable units are headed by people of color. Investments in weatherization, bill assistance, and climate-resilient affordable housing are essential.
Read at www.housingwire.com
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