When the Heat Becomes Deadly: How Extreme Temperatures Impact Unhoused Neighbors
When a heat advisory rolls across the Omaha metro, most of us head inside. For our unhoused neighbors in Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties, that option doesn't exist, and the consequences can be fatal.
Summer heat is not just an inconvenience for people experiencing homelessness. It is a life-threatening factor. A 2024 peer-reviewed study from Boston University School of Public Health found that heat-attributable deaths among unhoused people were 10 to 100 times greater than among the general population, a disparity driven by a combination of environmental exposure, limited resources, and compounding health factors.
What our unhoused neighbors are navigating when temperatures climb above 90 degrees:
No Access to Cooling
The urban heat island effect means city temperatures can run several degrees hotter than rural areas. People living and sleeping outside absorb the heat with barriers to shade, cool green spaces, and other refuges from the outdoors.Limited Access to Hydration
Without consistent access to clean water throughout the day, the body's ability to regulate temperature breaks down quickly. This can accelerate the onset of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, both of which can be life-threatening without prompt medical attention.Compounding Health Risks and Age
People experiencing homelessness are more likely to be managing chronic conditions that can be aggravated by extreme heat, with older adults facing the greatest risk. Individuals 50 and older now make up nearly half of the single adult unhoused population nationally, up from just 11% in the early 1990s.
Cooling centers, Street Outreach, and water distribution are critical interventions, and our teams are on the ground throughout the summer months connecting neighbors with those exact resources. But as the National Health Care for the Homeless Council maintains: the best way to prevent people from dying on the streets is to house them.
Here’s how you can help this summer:
Donate Supplies: Water, sunscreen, cooling towels, and hygiene kits go directly to Street Outreach teams. Shop our Amazon Wishlist or find drop-off details on our Support page
Spread the Word: Share cooling center locations
Give Financially: Support ongoing Street Outreach operations
If you or a neighbor are facing housing instability, please connect with one of our Access Points. Our CoC's network of resources helps prevent individuals and families from facing housing insecurity and gain access to safe, quality housing.