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

Abstract

People experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to extreme weather in unique ways. The entrenched inequalities that underpin disaster vulnerability are compounded by extreme isolation and the stress of transient living on mental and physical health. However, the impacts of extreme weather on the homeless in Australia are largely undocumented and rarely incorporated in emergency planning. Interviews with and surveys of emergency and homeless services and service users revealed that the primary ramifications of losing shelter and worsening mental health deepen the cycle of homelessness and trauma. Consequently, homeless shelter losses, such as tents, should be included in pre‐ and post‐event impact statistics and subsequent recovery support. Extreme weather response plans should include early triggers and strategies for ‘non‐severe’ weather events, as the homeless community is affected earlier and by a wider range of meteorological conditions. Moreover, this study also explores the benefits of a trauma‐informed response to extreme weather when working with the homeless.

Global Climate Implications for Homelessness: A Scoping Review

“…Climate change for individuals experiencing homelessness: recommendations for improving policy, research, and services. USA Every et al [ 13 ]. There’s nowhere to go: counting the costs of extreme weather to the homeless community.…”

“…Six papers concentrated on shelter-using populations, with service use status as the indicator of homelessness, and 5 papers described their populations as having experienced “absolute” or “primary” homelessness with some variability as how this categorization addressed (i.e., sleeping rough (roofless) or some emergency shelter use). These latter papers tended to address the dimensionality of homelessness to a greater degree (e.g., [ 45 ]), with Every et al [ 13 ] applying the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion definition of degrees of homelessness and housing precarity. The most nuanced commentary on homelessness as dimensional and intertwined with social inequities described these phenomena in low income countries where it was argued that housing precarity and homelessness must be considered differently than the situations in high income countries [ 1 , 47 ].…”

“…This topic was generally addressed with broad statements about large-scale risks inferred from climate data [ 16 ], with some emphasizing unique vulnerabilities faced in low-income countries (e.g., “The phenomenon of climate change heralds distinctive challenges for sub-Saharan Africa’s urban areas, with economic, social, and health impacts, and severe effects on housing and infrastructure.” [ 1 ], p.15; [ 47 ]). An exception was Every et al [ 13 ], wherein a survey of homeless sector service providers in Australia indicated an estimate that extreme weather was a pathway to homelessness for 16.2% of service users.…”

“…[1], p.15; [47]). An exception was Every et al [13], wherein a survey of homeless sector service providers in Australia indicated an estimate that extreme weather was a pathway to homelessness for 16.2% of service users.…”

“…USA Every et al [13]. There's nowhere to go: counting the costs of extreme weather to the homeless community.…”