Javier Velez has been homeless since Hurricane Ian devastated his Fort Myers, Florida, residence, leaving it roofless and submerged under more than 4 feet of water back in September 2022. Approaching his second summer without proper shelter, he relocated to New Jersey in May for work as a truck driver. With forecasts predicting unusually high temperatures in the northeast throughout June, July, and August, he anticipates enduring sweltering conditions.

Meteorologists caution that this summer, commencing towards the end of June, will bring hotter than average temperatures, posing significant challenges for unhoused individuals, including many low-income individuals like Velez, who lost their homes to natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 250,000 unhoused people reside on the streets, in vehicles, or in other inadequate living spaces across the nation.


Individuals lacking shelter are highly susceptible to extreme heat," remarked Jeff Masters, a meteorologist associated with Yale University.

In New Jersey, Velez plans to cook and bathe within the confines of his truck cabin.

I'll likely find shade under trees and keep the doors open to stay cool," shared Velez, aged 60, during a Spanish-language interview.



Following natural disasters, certain individuals never find their way back to their homes.

Velez represents one of the millions of Americans displaced by natural disasters in recent years, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2023 alone, over 3 million individuals faced displacement due to events such as hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and tornadoes, according to the bureau's findings.

"It's utterly heartbreaking to witness all your efforts, everything you've toiled so relentlessly to achieve, only to have it all obliterated," lamented Velez.

Hurricane Ian, a formidable Category 4 tempest, laid waste to over 5,000 homes and structures in Lee County, Florida, where Velez resided, as per the National Hurricane Center. Ian's unexpected trajectory caught meteorologists off guard as the cyclone deviated from its projected path toward Tampa, Florida, and instead ravaged southwest Florida. According to NOAA, the storm ranked as the third-most financially damaging hurricane in U.S. history, claiming the lives of 156 individuals across Florida, North Carolina, and Cuba.



Disaster recovery advocates highlight the greater challenges faced by low-income individuals in bouncing back from catastrophes, primarily due to their fewer possessions and lower likelihood of home insurance coverage.

Natural disasters exacerbate income inequalities," noted Caryn Wheeler, executive director of the Jackson County Community Long-Term Recovery Group in southern Oregon. In recent years, wildfires have decimated thousands of units of low-income housing in the region.

Velez expressed his inability to gather sufficient funds from savings, insurance claims, or FEMA disaster relief to repair his home, particularly the roof requiring replacement.

"I'm getting no assistance," Velez lamented, highlighting the repeated rejection of his roof insurance claim.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season kicks off on Saturday, extending until November 30, with its peak typically occurring in September. Meteorologists caution that record-high ocean temperatures in the Caribbean indicate an 85% probability of above-average hurricane activity this year.

"We're issuing the most aggressive forecast ever this early in the season for what could be an exceptionally active Atlantic hurricane season," Masters remarked.


In Oregon, wildfires decimated low-cost housing options.

Although much of the U.S., including areas of Oregon and California, may experience above-average temperatures this summer, the region is expected to be spared from drought conditions and the resulting wildfires, according to Masters.

However, in 2020, the situation was quite different.

According to Wheeler, the September 2020 Almeda Fire in Jackson County, Oregon, destroyed 18 mobile home parks that provided affordable housing. Many of these units, which were over 50 years old, had depreciated significantly in value, from their initial purchase price of $20,000 to $30,000, as reported by Wheeler's organization. In numerous instances, residents owned their units but rented the land they occupied.

When the Almeda Fire consumed Tania Pineda's $5,000 mobile home, she and her family relocated to an RV park designated for survivors employed by the local hospital. Pineda had not obtained an insurance policy for their mobile home, which they had purchased just months before the fire.

Due to the low value of certain affordable housing options, such as mobile homes, it becomes nearly impossible for residents to rebuild a new home at a cost equivalent to the insurance coverage for their previous dwelling, as per Wheeler.

"These households have seen their entire stability engulfed in flames," she remarked.



Three months following the destruction of her home, Pineda discovered she was pregnant with her second child. Throughout the summer of 2021, while pregnant, she endured sweltering temperatures reaching approximately 108 degrees Fahrenheit inside the cramped RV. Pineda described her living arrangement where her mattress was situated right next to the living room, which was squeezed next to the kitchenette. The storage area of the RV, originally intended for an all-terrain vehicle, served as her 4-year-old daughter's room.

"I'd just sit down and cry," expressed Pineda, 28. "The tears would come when my daughter was napping, they'd come at any moment - just grappling with the reality that this might be my life for the next couple of years was incredibly tough."

Following Pineda's delivery in August 2021, she and her two children relocated to her parents' home in Medford, Oregon, where they still reside.

Pineda expressed her aspiration to move out later this year, contingent upon the speed of assistance from wildfire recovery programs. However, she noted that their family is currently in the third stage of a slow-moving seven-stage process.

Velez, who has been residing in New Jersey for less than a month, plans to return to Florida by December, equipped with additional funds earned from truck driving jobs in and out of Linden.

Northeast Braces for Hotter Summer Ahead

New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and neighboring states in the northeastern United States are forecasted to experience above-average temperatures this summer.

"I anticipate it will rank among the top 10 warmest summers on record for the northeast since 1970," stated Masters. He estimated that New York City, the region's largest metropolis, will likely encounter nearly 30 days with temperatures soaring above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, the city experiences an average of 18 such days each summer, according to Masters.

According to HUD, New York City has an estimated unhoused population of around 88,000, while New Jersey has approximately 10,000.

"The homeless population is particularly vulnerable because there's no respite from the heat they endure throughout the day," noted Raquel Silva, a researcher at ICF Climate Center, a global consulting firm specializing in climate crises and affordable housing.


He cautioned that forecasts indicate the Northeast could experience a wetter-than-average summer, which would elevate humidity levels and intensify the sensation of heat.

In urban areas like New York City and Newark, New Jersey, the combination of asphalt and limited greenery exacerbates the perception of summer heat, as explained by Masters. This phenomenon, known as the urban heat island effect, is particularly noticeable during the nighttime hours.

"Cities retain significantly more heat at night compared to surrounding rural areas," Masters elaborated. "Without the opportunity to cool down, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to increased risk of heat-related illnesses.

Masters pointed out that the heightened intensity of heat also raises the risk of power outages due to the simultaneous usage of air conditioners, which strains energy infrastructure. A recent report from ICF highlighted that approximately 8 million low-income individuals nationwide are vulnerable to extreme heat waves, which can adversely affect energy systems.

You have these cooling centers, but what if there's a power outage?" he questioned, emphasizing that individuals without access to transportation will face additional challenges in reaching places with air conditioning.

Lethal Heat Grips the Southwest

This summer, the Southwest is anticipated to experience even higher temperatures than the Northeast. Forecasters caution that regions spanning from west Texas through New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah are likely to encounter above-average temperatures.

"My primary area of concern lies in the southwest U.S. − that's where NOAA has identified as the epicenter for the most intense heat," remarked Masters.

Masters cautioned that Phoenix is likely to face temperatures exceeding what Arizonans are accustomed to, with potentially deadlier consequences than in previous years. According to the nonprofit Climate Central, the average temperature in the Phoenix area last summer reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit, marking a more than 4% increase from the average temperature recorded during the summer of 1970.

The escalating temperatures have coincided with a surge in heat-related fatalities in the city. The department reported that adults aged 50 and older, individuals residing in mobile homes, and those experiencing homelessness have borne the brunt of the extreme heat in recent years.

Arizona public health officials disclosed that there were 645 heat-related deaths in the Phoenix area in 2023, representing nearly a 50% surge from the 425 heat-related deaths recorded in 2022. Both years witnessed higher numbers compared to 2021, which reported 339 heat-related deaths, as stated by the Maricopa County public health department.

In Chico, California, further north, average temperatures reached a peak of 106 degrees during the summer of 2018, according to data from the National Weather Service.


In November of that year, Sara Stewart's residence was ravaged by the catastrophic Camp Fire, where she resided with her children and parents. Subsequently, she and her boys spent over five years living out of their car and campgrounds, she recounted.

During winters, she traversed with her sons to Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, taking on odd jobs at gem shows and other seasonal events. As temperatures soared during summers, they sought refuge in Northern California and Oregon, camping out, she explained.

Finally, with the assistance of a housing program for fire survivors in Chico, Stewart, a 33-year-old single mother, and her family acquired their own home in April. They now reside in town, distancing themselves from areas prone to fires. Despite still feeling wary, Stewart noted that they are better equipped to handle emergencies. Throughout the ordeal, she has become acutely aware of the diverse circumstances that lead to homelessness.

"Unfortunately, homelessness is often portrayed in a one-dimensional manner, but it's much more nuanced," she expressed. "It's not a singular narrative; it's circumstantial."