31 The Effects of Extreme Weather Conditions and Episodic Poor Air Quality on People Experiencing Homelessness

Faculty Mentor: Jeff Rose (Parks, Recreation & Tourism, University of Utah)

Poor and unsafe air quality is a public health risk as it poses serious health dangers to those exposed. Some groups are disproportionately exposed to unsafe air quality and the illnesses that are caused by it. The unsheltered homeless population of Salt Lake City is exposed to the city’s environmental hazards at high levels. Not only are they affected by hazards such as extreme heat and cold weather, but they are also directly exposed to episodic poor air quality each day that it occurs in the Salt Lake City region. This study strives to uncover the struggles that people experiencing homelessness endure by conducting primary data collection through interviews. People experiencing unsheltered homelessness may include people living on the street, in parks, alleyways, cars, abandoned buildings, and more. These individuals also may be using resources from shelters as well as residing in shelters temporarily. Living conditions for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness are highly affected by the surrounding poor air quality as well as extreme weather conditions. These environmental hazards cause the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people experiencing homelessness to be directly impacted. The disproportionate exposure to unsafe air quality and extreme weather among those experiencing homelessness poses large environmental justice concerns in the Salt Lake City area. The results of this experiment showed the true struggles that people experiencing homelessness endure living uncovered from extreme weather conditions as well as air quality. Participants shared their stories of times of difficulty and times where displacement and local policies have led them to live in extreme discomfort and survival mode. Ultimately, the research also showed that resources and policies were failing this population, and it was deemed impossible to live a healthy life uncovered from the listed environmental hazards. This research is a call for action to protect people experiencing homelessness from dangerous living conditions.