It’s mid summer here in New Jersey and so is the weather. Very hot and humid the air you can wear as some local meteorologists like to say. But what exactly is extreme heat and how does it impact our most vulnerable citizens namely the unsheltered?

Extreme heat is defined as outside of the norm, think of the term heat wave defined as 90 degree or more consecutive days. Heat Hub NJ states, “In New Jersey, heat waves are predicted to become more frequent with estimates that the average number of heat waves could quadruple (1.1 to 3.8 per year) by 2050.” Heat puts a toll on your body and if the night time temperatures stay above 80 degrees it does not allow your body to recover from the heat stress of the day. We all know how we feel the 2nd or 3rd day of a heat wave…the cumulative effect of the heat is quite noticeable and dramatic.

Outside of the obvious of not having adequate relief from the weather, many experiencing homelessness also have other conditions which may only worsen from exposure to extreme heat including physical disabilities, chronic health conditions and mental illness. Lack of clean running water for hydration and proper refrigeration can cause food to spoil and harbor food born illnesses sometimes resulting in a visit to the emergency room.

Want to learn more about extreme heat? The state of New Jersey developed a digital resource, Heat Hub NJ, https://heat-hub-new-jersey-njdep.hub.arcgis.com/. Click on the link to learn more and to find resources to help those suffering from extreme heat.