Heat and Houselessness | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/environment/environmental-justice-public-health/heat-and-houselessness
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:21
Heat and Houselessness | Vermont Department of Health
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Translations for you
Heat and Houselessness
Environmental Justice & Public Health
Environmental Justice & Health Equity Data
Heat and Houselessness
How Heat Impacts Unhoused Vermonters
Climate change
is making heat waves in Vermont hotter, last longer, and happen more often. Hot weather can cause serious health problems, like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Some people are harmed more than others
because they lack economic, social or political resources.
The number of days when temperatures reach 90°F at the Burlington Airport have increased from about 8 times per year from 1991 to 2020 to about 15 times a year since 2020.
The unhoused population in Vermont has also
more than tripled
since 2020. In 2024, Vermont had the
fourth highest rate of houselessness
in the country.
People who are unhoused are believed to be at especially high risk for heat-related illnesses, but it can be difficult to confirm this using traditional health data. Heat illnesses are often not reported because many unhoused people cannot get medical care, and medical records rarely include housing status.
To help better understand how hot weather affects unhoused Vermonters – and what support they need –
the Health Department partnered with Middlebury College
. Together, we listened to unhoused Vermonters and the people who provide services to them. You can listen to their stories below.
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project was created to share the real experiences of unhoused people who are living with climate-related health impacts and challenges. We identified the most representative ideas and concerns shared and used those themes to provide an interactive experience.
As you move through the Storytelling Project, you will hear six audio clips, each with a short written explanation to provide context. You also have the option to listen to more audio clips from the interviews. Please be aware that some of these clips may bring up strong emotions.
The Storytelling Project is interactive, which means you can:
Use the orange arrows at the bottom to move to the next quote or go back.
Click on the play button at the top of the screen to hear each audio clip.
Make the display bigger by clicking the button below.
View in Full Screen
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways below summarize what we learned from this project. They show the needs that people in this project talked about most often, as well as the system-level changes needed based on our analysis and interpretation of the interviews.
Unhoused people often experience health problems due to hot weather and lack basic safety resources.
People without housing are at especially high risk for heat-related illnesses like dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and worse asthma symptoms. Not having easy access to resources like clean water and places to cool off makes these problems more severe.
Climate change, lack of affordable housing, and socioeconomic factors are major causes of this growing risk.
These issues are complicated and affect many parts of society. Solving them will require long-term efforts, including expanding access to affordable housing, health care, and supportive services.
Stigma makes it harder for unhoused Vermonters to get the help they need.
Some people have a negative impression of unhoused people, which can lead to unfair treatment. Many unhoused people feel unwelcome in public spaces because of this stigma.
Providing temporary shelter, storage, and survival supplies can help with immediate needs.
Short-term solutions – such as daytime and overnight cooling spaces, clean drinking water, hygiene support and sun protection – can make a big difference right away.
Climate change is creating new risks that require new public health and safety strategies.
Many people interviewed said they want better resources and support systems, especially public “third spaces” – places where they can cool off, connect with others, and access resources like internet or case management.
These takeaways are consistent with new research and recommendations for
how communities can help people experiencing houselessness during extreme weather events
.
How we are addressing this emerging challenge
The Health Department is one of many partners across Vermont working to address the combined challenges of climate change and houselessness. The
Vermont State Health Improvement Plan
describes how we are working with partners to increase affordable housing, reduce the impact Vermont’s high cost of living, improve health care access, and strengthen mental health and substance use services. The Health Department also participates in the Vermont Climate Council and related state efforts to reduce the impact of climate change on people’s health.
To meet more immediate needs, we are taking several actions based on what we learned from this project, including:
Keeping a
map of community cooling sites
, and sharing it online, in print, and through partners like Vermont 2-1-1.
Sending
heat safety tips
to community partners that serve unhoused Vermonters when dangerous heat is expected.
Working with homeless shelters to identify and reduce heat risks inside their buildings.
Sharing this project with state and community partners so we can find additional solutions.
We also know of other partners that have taken impactful actions, such as:
The Office of Economic Opportunity provided heat safety supplies and outreach through the
Housing Opportunity Grant Program
and local street outreach teams.
Vermont Parks Forever gave more than 27,500 free state park visits to income-eligible Vermonters through the
2025 Park Access Fund Pilot Program
.
Short-term action steps
Unhoused Vermonters need extra help to stay safe in extreme heat. We understand that bigger changes are needed to support them in the long term. But for now, providing temporary shelter, storage, and survival supplies can address some immediate needs, like:
Access to daytime relief
– cooling centers, libraries, other spaces with air conditioning, mobile cooling vans, shade/misting tents, pools, parks and beaches
Access to overnight shelters with air conditioning
– keeping shelters open year-round or opening emergency shelters during periods of extreme heat
Hydration resources
– access to drinking water, water purification supplies, electrolyte packets
Hygiene support
– access to shower and laundry facilities, wet wipes, cleaning wipes, wash cloths, hand sanitizer, no-rinse body soap, deodorant, first aid items
Sun and insect protection
– light-colored, breathable clothing, sun hats, sunscreen, umbrellas; bite and illness prevention info, repellant, tick tweezers, and guidance
Poor air quality protection
(for example, wildfire smoke) – indoor respite centers, N95 masks
Personal cooling equipment
– portable fans, ice packs, cooling towels
Secure storage facilities
– especially for heavy winter gear
Heat safety information
– safety tips, how to find cooling sites and other needed resources
What you can do
You can learn more about houselessness and how you can help address heat risks for unhoused Vermonters from these organizations:
Addressing and Preventing Unsheltered Homelessness
(Vermont Department for Children and Families)
Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont
In our words, in our community
(Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity)
Get Involved
(National Coalition for the Homeless)
About the Storytelling Project
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project started as a way to improve health equity by better understanding how heat impacts people who are unhoused. The goal was to share this information with the public and use it to help guide better policies.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, two groups of students from Middlebury College’s
Environmental Studies Department
collected data through surveys and in-depth interviews with 19 unhoused individuals around the state and seven service providers who work directly with them. These interviews were recorded, written down, and carefully reviewed. They focused on how heat affects the daily lives of unhoused Vermonters.
Read the full Middlebury College report
.
The audio clips used come from these interviews. All interviews were done with the interviewees’ permission. Some voices have been altered to protect anonymity, and interviewees can ask for their recorded material to be removed at any time. The interviewees were compensated for their time and for sharing their valuable lived experiences.
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project was made possible by the unhoused individuals and shelter service providers who shared their stories, the Middlebury College students who worked on this project, and the faculty who supported this partnership.
More information
Hot Weather Safety
Climate & Health Data
Topics:
Climate Change
|
Outdoor Safety
Last Updated:
March 19, 2026
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Heat and Houselessness
Environmental Justice & Public Health
Environmental Justice & Health Equity Data
Heat and Houselessness
How Heat Impacts Unhoused Vermonters
Climate change
is making heat waves in Vermont hotter, last longer, and happen more often. Hot weather can cause serious health problems, like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Some people are harmed more than others
because they lack economic, social or political resources.
The number of days when temperatures reach 90°F at the Burlington Airport have increased from about 8 times per year from 1991 to 2020 to about 15 times a year since 2020.
The unhoused population in Vermont has also
more than tripled
since 2020. In 2024, Vermont had the
fourth highest rate of houselessness
in the country.
People who are unhoused are believed to be at especially high risk for heat-related illnesses, but it can be difficult to confirm this using traditional health data. Heat illnesses are often not reported because many unhoused people cannot get medical care, and medical records rarely include housing status.
To help better understand how hot weather affects unhoused Vermonters – and what support they need –
the Health Department partnered with Middlebury College
. Together, we listened to unhoused Vermonters and the people who provide services to them. You can listen to their stories below.
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project was created to share the real experiences of unhoused people who are living with climate-related health impacts and challenges. We identified the most representative ideas and concerns shared and used those themes to provide an interactive experience.
As you move through the Storytelling Project, you will hear six audio clips, each with a short written explanation to provide context. You also have the option to listen to more audio clips from the interviews. Please be aware that some of these clips may bring up strong emotions.
The Storytelling Project is interactive, which means you can:
Use the orange arrows at the bottom to move to the next quote or go back.
Click on the play button at the top of the screen to hear each audio clip.
Make the display bigger by clicking the button below.
View in Full Screen
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways below summarize what we learned from this project. They show the needs that people in this project talked about most often, as well as the system-level changes needed based on our analysis and interpretation of the interviews.
Unhoused people often experience health problems due to hot weather and lack basic safety resources.
People without housing are at especially high risk for heat-related illnesses like dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and worse asthma symptoms. Not having easy access to resources like clean water and places to cool off makes these problems more severe.
Climate change, lack of affordable housing, and socioeconomic factors are major causes of this growing risk.
These issues are complicated and affect many parts of society. Solving them will require long-term efforts, including expanding access to affordable housing, health care, and supportive services.
Stigma makes it harder for unhoused Vermonters to get the help they need.
Some people have a negative impression of unhoused people, which can lead to unfair treatment. Many unhoused people feel unwelcome in public spaces because of this stigma.
Providing temporary shelter, storage, and survival supplies can help with immediate needs.
Short-term solutions – such as daytime and overnight cooling spaces, clean drinking water, hygiene support and sun protection – can make a big difference right away.
Climate change is creating new risks that require new public health and safety strategies.
Many people interviewed said they want better resources and support systems, especially public “third spaces” – places where they can cool off, connect with others, and access resources like internet or case management.
These takeaways are consistent with new research and recommendations for
how communities can help people experiencing houselessness during extreme weather events
.
How we are addressing this emerging challenge
The Health Department is one of many partners across Vermont working to address the combined challenges of climate change and houselessness. The
Vermont State Health Improvement Plan
describes how we are working with partners to increase affordable housing, reduce the impact Vermont’s high cost of living, improve health care access, and strengthen mental health and substance use services. The Health Department also participates in the Vermont Climate Council and related state efforts to reduce the impact of climate change on people’s health.
To meet more immediate needs, we are taking several actions based on what we learned from this project, including:
Keeping a
map of community cooling sites
, and sharing it online, in print, and through partners like Vermont 2-1-1.
Sending
heat safety tips
to community partners that serve unhoused Vermonters when dangerous heat is expected.
Working with homeless shelters to identify and reduce heat risks inside their buildings.
Sharing this project with state and community partners so we can find additional solutions.
We also know of other partners that have taken impactful actions, such as:
The Office of Economic Opportunity provided heat safety supplies and outreach through the
Housing Opportunity Grant Program
and local street outreach teams.
Vermont Parks Forever gave more than 27,500 free state park visits to income-eligible Vermonters through the
2025 Park Access Fund Pilot Program
.
Short-term action steps
Unhoused Vermonters need extra help to stay safe in extreme heat. We understand that bigger changes are needed to support them in the long term. But for now, providing temporary shelter, storage, and survival supplies can address some immediate needs, like:
Access to daytime relief
– cooling centers, libraries, other spaces with air conditioning, mobile cooling vans, shade/misting tents, pools, parks and beaches
Access to overnight shelters with air conditioning
– keeping shelters open year-round or opening emergency shelters during periods of extreme heat
Hydration resources
– access to drinking water, water purification supplies, electrolyte packets
Hygiene support
– access to shower and laundry facilities, wet wipes, cleaning wipes, wash cloths, hand sanitizer, no-rinse body soap, deodorant, first aid items
Sun and insect protection
– light-colored, breathable clothing, sun hats, sunscreen, umbrellas; bite and illness prevention info, repellant, tick tweezers, and guidance
Poor air quality protection
(for example, wildfire smoke) – indoor respite centers, N95 masks
Personal cooling equipment
– portable fans, ice packs, cooling towels
Secure storage facilities
– especially for heavy winter gear
Heat safety information
– safety tips, how to find cooling sites and other needed resources
What you can do
You can learn more about houselessness and how you can help address heat risks for unhoused Vermonters from these organizations:
Addressing and Preventing Unsheltered Homelessness
(Vermont Department for Children and Families)
Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont
In our words, in our community
(Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity)
Get Involved
(National Coalition for the Homeless)
About the Storytelling Project
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project started as a way to improve health equity by better understanding how heat impacts people who are unhoused. The goal was to share this information with the public and use it to help guide better policies.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, two groups of students from Middlebury College’s
Environmental Studies Department
collected data through surveys and in-depth interviews with 19 unhoused individuals around the state and seven service providers who work directly with them. These interviews were recorded, written down, and carefully reviewed. They focused on how heat affects the daily lives of unhoused Vermonters.
Read the full Middlebury College report
.
The audio clips used come from these interviews. All interviews were done with the interviewees’ permission. Some voices have been altered to protect anonymity, and interviewees can ask for their recorded material to be removed at any time. The interviewees were compensated for their time and for sharing their valuable lived experiences.
The Heat & Houselessness Storytelling Project was made possible by the unhoused individuals and shelter service providers who shared their stories, the Middlebury College students who worked on this project, and the faculty who supported this partnership.
More information
Hot Weather Safety
Climate & Health Data
Topics:
Climate Change
|
Outdoor Safety
Last Updated:
March 19, 2026