As climate change intensifies, extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, wildfires, and hurricanes are becoming more frequent, resulting in increased displacement of people. When natural disasters strike, people with the fewest resources are often the most severely impacted. Although climate change affects the entire planet, its consequences are not experienced equally. Research shows that climate change disproportionately affects communities of color, low-income households, and marginalized communities. The fight to end homelessness is deeply intertwined with the pursuit of climate justice. Both climate change and homelessness exacerbate long-standing social inequities that exist within the US and worldwide. Confronting both issues is crucial to human rights now and in the future. 

Housing Discrimination & Environmental Racism 

Where people live is inherently driven by politics, history, and social constructs. People of color, particularly Black Americans, have faced the greatest discrimination in housing policy and thus face the greatest impacts from climate change. Studies reveal that Black communities are significantly more likely to be exposed to extreme heat and hurricanes than their white counterparts. Historically, racially discriminatory housing policies, like the practice of redlining, relegated Black residents to less desirable areas. Today, many of these formerly redlined neighborhoods remain predominantly Black. Data shows that Redlined neighborhoods are at a higher risk of flooding and are more likely to experience the “urban heat island” effect, which means they are hotter due to the presence of more asphalt and less green space.

In 1982, civil rights leader Benjamin Chavis coined the term “environmental racism”. Environmental racism refers to any environmental policy, practice, or directive that differentially affects or disadvantages people of color. At its core, this form of systemic racism exists because the US government and society have long neglected, and often intentionally hurt, the health of Black and brown communities. Countless studies have demonstrated that communities of color, especially those who are low-income, are exposed to disproportionate levels of toxic waste and pollutants, resulting in increased risks for health issues like cancer and respiratory illnesses. Ultimately, there can be no meaningful solution to the climate crisis without addressing racism. America’s legacy of racism must be acknowledged, and the systems that continue to uphold racial inequality, including environmental policies and practices, must be actively combatted. 

People Experiencing Homelessness 

While climate change creates displacement and causes people to experience homelessness for the first time, it also poses a severe threat to people who are currently unhoused. Living without safe and reliable shelter can be life-threatening when natural disasters occur. Ninety-one percent of people experiencing homelessness live in urban and suburban areas prone to the heat island effect. Exposure to extreme heat without access to water and protection from the sun can cause heatstroke, exacerbate other health conditions, and even lead to death. Spending long periods outside also subjects unhoused populations to greater levels of air pollution. Prolonged exposure to air pollution has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory-related death. 

The recent Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson further compounds climate change’s impact on people experiencing homelessness. In June 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that punishing a person for sleeping in public does not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling effectively criminalized homelessness and allowed states to fine and even jail unhoused people for sleeping in public spaces. This decision rejects an abundance of data that reveals criminalizing homelessness is costly and ineffective. As public spaces are increasingly surveilled, unhoused individuals will be forced into more dangerous areas that are more susceptible to environmental hazards. Pushing people experiencing homelessness further to the margins will only cause greater harm to those who are most vulnerable in society.

Building a Greener Future for All 

Ensuring the future of the Earth begins with prioritizing the health and safety of the communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The need to increase access to affordable and safe housing is deeply connected to the climate crisis. More people will become homeless if we do not act now, and individuals who are already experiencing homelessness will suffer some of the most severe environmental consequences. Communities of color will also disproportionately experience the burden of climate change. However, the climate crisis is not an issue of a single group or community. Instead, it is an issue of humanity, its continuation, and our ability to care for our earth and one another. Addressing climate change as an individual may be overwhelming, but we don’t need to do it alone. Like the fight to end homelessness, we hold the most power when we work together as a community for climate justice.