Concerns are mounting over the escalating threat of extreme heat impacting individuals experiencing homelessness across the nation. Sabine Bösing, Managing Director of the Federal Association for Homeless Assistance (BAG W), has issued a stark warning about the serious health risks faced by this particularly vulnerable population.
Bösing highlighted that for those without stable housing, the streets become a significant health hazard during summer months, leaving individuals exposed without access to shade, water, or safe refuge.
The situation is exacerbated by factors such as limited access to medical care, pre-existing chronic conditions, inadequate clothing or hydration and potential substance use. These elements significantly heighten the risk of severe health complications, including heatstroke and, tragically, heat-related fatalities.
BAG W is urging the federal government to take more decisive action. A proposed “Heat Protection Fund” would channel resources directly into homelessness emergency assistance programs. Simultaneously, Bösing emphasized the need for a legal mandate requiring local authorities to develop and implement comprehensive heat protection plans that explicitly include provisions for individuals experiencing homelessness. Clear guidelines and obligations for both state and local entities to incorporate vulnerable populations into broader protective measures are also being advocated.
At the municipal level, the association calls for readily available access to free water, shaded areas, shower facilities and cool respite spaces. Maintaining year-round operation of emergency shelters, appropriately equipped to mitigate heat risks, is also considered essential. Bösing concluded by stressing the importance of a “social climate policy” that leaves no one behind, demanding increased housing options, improved support services and enhanced protection for all.
