Extreme weather-related health needs of people who are homeless

Abstract

To identify the extreme weather-related health needs of homeless people and the response by homeless service providers in Adelaide, South Australia, a five-phased qualitative interpretive study was undertaken. (1) Literature review, followed by semi-structured interviews with 25 homeless people to ascertain health needs during extreme weather events. (2) Identification of homeless services. (3) Semi-structured interviews with 16 homeless service providers regarding their response to the health needs of homeless people at times of extreme weather. (4) Gap analysis. (5) Suggestions for policy and planning. People experiencing homelessness describe adverse health impacts more from extreme cold, than extreme hot weather. They considered their health suffered more, because of wet bedding, clothes and shoes. They felt more depressed and less able to keep themselves well during cold, wet winters. However, homeless service providers were more focussed on planning for extra service responses during times of extreme heat rather than extreme cold. Even though a city may be considered to have a temperate climate with a history of very hot summers, primary homeless populations have health needs during winter months. The experiences and needs of homeless people should be considered in extreme weather policy and when planning responses.

Impacts of extreme weather on the health and well-being of people who are homeless

“…The reported health impacts from extreme heat, cold and wet conditions were similar to those reported by Cusack et al (2013). A prominent theme was that extreme weather has a 'magnifying effect', exacerbating already highly prevalent physical and mental health problems and substance use disorders.…”

“…The emerging evidence from Cusack et al (2013), our own study (C Pendrey, M Carey, J Stanley, unpubl. data) and a limited number of other studies in this field supports the importance of extreme weather as an increasing risk to the health and well being of people experiencing homelessness in Australia.…”

There's nowhere to go: counting the costs of extreme weather to the homeless community

“…People experiencing homelessness frequently suffer from chronic, comorbid illnesses such as gastro‐intestinal and musculo‐skeletal problems, poor dental health, and respiratory infections (Martins, 2008; Moore, Manias, and Gerdtz, 2011). In a time of extreme weather, people with chronic health conditions are at particular risk of developing heat‐ and cold‐related conditions, including heatstroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular, renal, or respiratory illness (Cusack et al, 2013). Research estimates that between 50 (Tansley, 2008) and 88 (O'Donnell et al, 2014) per cent of homeless people in Australia suffer mental health issues, including depression, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis, and alcohol and substance abuse and/or dependence (O'Donnell et al 2014).…”

Persistent Precarity and the Disaster of Everyday Life: Homeless People’s Experiences of Natural and Other Hazards

“…These studies suggest that rough sleepers suffer severely from disasters and that their everyday life and routine is profoundly disrupted. These studies all emphasize that homeless peoples' vulnerability in facing natural and other hazards result from obstructed access to available resources (Phillips 1996;Wisner 1998;Drabek 1999;Cusack et al 2013;Walters and Gaillard 2014;Vickery 2015Vickery , 2017Vickery , 2018Every and Richardson 2017). A small number of other studies have also documented how access to resources only worsens in the aftermath of disasters, thus aggravating the vicious circle of marginalization already observed before the disaster (Phillips 1998;Settembrino 2013Settembrino , 2015Settembrino , 2016.…”