Extreme Weather Dangerous for MN’s Unsheltered
Hot Weather Challenges for Unsheltered People
When Minnesotans think of extreme weather, we tend to envision our state’s bitter winters. While cold weather is certainly dangerous for those who don’t have reliable shelter, extreme weather also includes the heat waves that cover the Twin Cities each summer.
The risk of a heat-related death is two to three hundred times higher for people living unsheltered than for the population at large — and “as temperatures continue to rise across the U.S. and the world, cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, New York or Kansas City that don’t have the experience or infrastructure for dealing with heat have to adjust,” says David Hondula, the climate scientist who heads Phoenix, Arizona’s office for heat mitigation.
In Kare 11’s recent story, Ramon is one of many people seeking shelter from the sweltering conditions at Catholic Charities Dorothy Day Place in St. Paul. “It’s really hard out there, it’s really hot out there,” Ramon said. “It gives you a place to sit down, cool off, and get some cold water.”
Catholic Charities Staff Feel the Heat
Staff at Catholic Charities’ daytime shelters have witnessed how heat-related illness can sneak up on a person, similar to frostbite or hypothermia. In the winter, there aren’t enough available resources that help people stay warm — during the summer, it’s the opposite: staff pay special attention to providing resources that help people stay hydrated and cool. “With this level of heat, we want to make sure that people don’t feel dehydrated, that they get enough water,” said Elizabeth Heger, associate vice president of emergency services at Catholic Charities Twin Cities.
At Dorothy Day Place, Catholic Charities staff are providing extra water stations in addition to the showers and three meals a day they typically serve. Elizabeth explained that they also perform frequent welfare checks on the patio and around the building, making sure that everyone is safe.
When Temperatures Rise, People Go Inside
When it’s really hot outside, meal counts spike at Catholic Charities’ daytime shelters. The Dorothy Day Place cafeteria serves hot meals three times a day, 365 days a year — when temperatures rise like they have this week, we see increased demand for services including meals; this presents challenges for the kitchen. Beyond struggling to find enough volunteers to help prepare and serve food, having more people inside can result in irritability. “We are seeing folks really become more agitated . . . they just don’t feel well because of the heat,” Elizabeth said.
For the older generation, a growing demographic of people seeking services at Dorothy Day Place, “they have things such as heat strokes that might affect them, they have additional health issues,” said Elizabeth. During hot days, particular attention is paid to the 55-plus age group, people with chronic health conditions, and others who are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness.
Kitchen staff are working hard to wash and refill extra water coolers every night and make sure everyone in need of a healthy meal is able to eat.
A Lack of Public Spaces
Another compounding factor is that public spaces don’t always welcome people who are experiencing homelessness. Spaces that many of us use to stay cool — like movie theaters, museums, and shopping malls — are out of reach for many of the people we serve. Libraries are usually an option, but if someone tries to cool off in a grocery store, corner shop, or downtown lobby, they might be asked to leave.
The scarcity of welcoming spaces compounds risk when it’s hot outside. For example, if people at Dorothy Day Place in St. Paul want to go to a library or a different cooling station, they most likely have to walk to that place, often carrying their belongings. This can be exhausting, especially for older adults. Catholic Charities staff take extra care during days like these to ensure people in the community are safe.
