People experiencing homelessness at risk amid heat, flooding

As some take to air-conditioned homes and safe public spaces to escape triple-digit temperatures in the Southwest, the elements pose unique risks to people experiencing homelessness.

“Here in Texas, currently the weather is 97 degrees, and it feels like 109,” said Mike Nichols, CEO of Coalition for the Homeless of Houston in Harris County, Texas.

Groups like Nichols’ work year-round to place people in permanent housing. When extreme weather sets in, volunteers hit the streets to distribute aid like cold water and information about cooling centers.

The goal is long-term housing, but the immediate priority during severe weather is to connect with those most at-risk, Nichols said.