People experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Why the AID Model?
People experiencing homelessness face severe risks during extreme weather events, from heatwaves and frigid cold events to hurricanes and air quality crises.
Many frontline workers, including social workers, healthcare providers, and outreach teams, struggle with how to effectively engage unhoused individuals on climate-related safety.
The AID Model (Assess, Inform, Direct) is a practical, frontline approach that helps staff identify risks, provide critical information, and connect individuals to life-saving NYC-based resources during extreme weather.
Homelessness and
Climate Change
People experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The amount of time they spend outside could increase their chances of exposure to climate change-related risks. Many individuals in this group have high rates of poorly controlled chronic disease, smoking, respiratory conditions, and mental illness that may increase their vulnerability.
Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness
Heatwaves raise the risk of heat stroke, exhaustion, and heart-related hospitalizations.
Air pollution worsens respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, increasing asthma attacks, hospitalizations, and mortality.
Floods and storms increase mortality, trigger anxiety and PTSD, and raise the risk of food and water-borne infections like diarrheal disease.
Warming temperatures and increased rainfall fuel the spread of vector-borne diseases (transmitted through insect bites) like Lyme disease, Zika virus, dengue fever, and malaria.
Taking a Clinical Approach
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Patients experiencing homelessness might not be aware of the health risks of certain climate-related exposures. They might also lack access to weather and air quality alerts during extreme weather events.
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Physicians and clinicians are trusted sources of information that can link climate change and health to provide patients adequate adaptation and mitigation strategies. (den Boer, 2016).
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Including questions related to climate and health during assessments and providing individualized adaptation strategies to homeless patients might prevent further deterioration in their health (Ramin & Svoboda, 2009).