Climate change and the homeless: the issue is bigger than we thought

More than 10,000 people in Toronto are homeless, sleeping outdoors, in shelters and in emergency respite centres every night. Isn’t that terrifying?

We are all fortunate enough to have a place we can call home. We often don’t think of it as a blessing. But the situations of many around us make us realize that we ought to be grateful for a place to live, a place filled with comfort and love, however small it may be. We would be shocked to realize that many of us are major contributors to the woes of the homeless. It’s our activities that result in changes in climatic conditions and thus, adverse effects on the health of the homeless….

The effect of climate change on the rising issue of homelessness has been proved by research by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.

The researchers focused on 4 pathways in which climate change harms the homeless population: increased heat waves, increased air pollution, increased severity of floods and storms, and the distribution of the West Nile Virus.

The research found that the amount of time homeless people spend outdoors leaves them much more vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change compared to the general population. Now we would understand the luxury of ‘a roof over our heads’.

• Heatwaves can be deadly. Without shady or air-conditioned shelter and regular hydration, your body will start to shut down. The experiments indicated that the life expectancy and quality of life of homeless people are affected by heat and cold exposure, which has intensified as a result of climate change.

• Air pollution-related mortality could increase by 20-30% by 2050. There is a high prevalence of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions as a result of various kinds of pollution.

• Drowning, infectious disease outbreaks and incidences of anxiety and depression following flood and storm disasters were found to increase.

• Furthermore, the early onset of spring, as a result of climate change, has increased the strength of the West Nile Virus. This virus thrives in warm, dry weather and individuals who sleep outside are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes that carry the virus.

Toronto Public Health has already begun to identify extreme weather trends to inform

outreach services. As far as mitigating the impacts that climate change has on homeless people is concerned, policymakers need to advocate for reductions in air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative energy policies, improved transportation systems and improved urban planning are ways in which severe impacts of climatic conditions on the homeless population can be lessened.

It’s difficult for many people who haven’t experienced homelessness personally to envision what it might look like. Homeless people are seen as outcasts, regardless of their personal situations. However, never forget that as the climate depreciates, you could be in their shoes one day….

Sources:

1. https://www.homelesshub.ca/

2. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2021/08/09/climate-change-is-exacerbating-the-homelessness-crisis-and-we-are-not-ready.html

Researcher: Theertha Aravind

Editor: Theertha Aravind