With New York amid yet another hot and humid summer, some activists are saying not enough is being done to aid homeless New Yorkers suffering in the heat and exposed to the elements 24 hours a day.
For the week of July 17 the Coalition for the Homeless issued a Level 2 Code Red due to the dangers of excessive heat. The suffering is evident on the streets of Manhattan on sweltering days, according to advocacy organizations and those with lived experience.
During this period, temperatures in the Big Apple flirted with 100 degrees, and the heat indexes (heat combined with community) soared well into the triple digits. The city issued heatstroke warnings to residents slogging through the heat wave. Things got so severe an NYPD recruit even lost his life on July 10 in the Bronx in an apparent heat-related emergency.
Also amid this boiling period, amNewYork Metro observed one undomiciled woman in Chelsea weeping and screaming out begging for water, tears streaming down her face. Many pedestrians simply walked by without batting an eye until another woman stepped in and handed her a water bottle.
“We don’t live in a third-world country for someone to be screaming out like that,” said the homeless New Yorker, who did want to be identified. “Nobody should be without water.”
Although the woman quickly gulped down the water, for many, the incident showed a distinct lack of support for the homeless.
The Homeless Coalition’s Senior Director of Crisis Services Lindsey Davis believes the city can do more in terms of informing the unsheltered of where they can find access to water and cooling centers in the most extreme weather, telling amNewYork Metro that she herself has had clients who have suffered in the heatwave.
“No one should be needing to beg for water. People should easily know where they can get those kinds of needs met. We have definitely had clients who have come in asking for assistance in getting access to a cool space,” Davis said. “We have had a client who collapsed on a subway platform, and she only found out about it after someone called 911 and was taken to the hospital.”
Davis also suggested that agencies like the Department of Social Services (DSS) should do more to distribute water to the homeless.
Those with have gone through homelessness also shared just how difficult life can be for those living in the street during summer in the city — something that will only grow worse amid climate change.
“The richest people are destroying our planet for fossil fuels and this heat is only going to get worse here and worldwide and it’s the poorest people who will suffer the most. The poorest countries will suffer the most and the poorest Americans here in this country will suffer the most,” formerly homeless East Villager Johnny Grima told amNewYork Metro. “Homeless people can’t just go inside to get cool, most of the stores and restaurants don’t want homeless people sitting inside and the public libraries and other cooling centers aren’t adequate.”
With rough sleepers suffering from a one-two punch of extreme heat and ignorance of their status, advocates charge that the city is responsible for ensuring vulnerable New Yorkers are kept safe during the dangerous conditions.
The Legal Aid Society told amNewYork Metro that the city should step up outreach efforts for those who remain outdoors while ensuring up-to-date air conditioning is installed at shelters.
“It’s imperative that the City make efforts to protect both New Yorkers who are street homeless or residing in shelter from extreme heat. This includes outreach to New Yorkers who are on the street, in subway stations, or other public places to ensure their safety, as well as accommodations in shelter for New Yorkers who are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. This is why we support measures to install air conditioning at all shelters as these extreme temperatures are unfortunately our new normal and here to stay,” a spokesperson for the Legal Aid Society said.
The majority of street homeless New Yorkers have told amNewYork Metro that they refuse the shelter system due to violence and thefts they say occur within their walls. Encampment sweeps during the Adams administration has also left many street homeless wary of taking up offers to reside in city shelters.
Homeless survivor turned advocate Shams DaBaron told amNewYork Metro that he remembers all too well what it was like to endure blazing temperatures, stating that the Big Apple needs an improved shelter system and even more housing.
“As someone who spent countless summers on the streets, I know firsthand the deadly dangers of extreme heat for the homeless. It’s not just winter that’s dangerous—summer’s scorching temperatures can be equally life-threatening. The heat can leave you disoriented, dehydrated, and dangerously weak,” DaBaron said. “We need more housing, improved shelters, and expanded Safe Havens to protect our vulnerable populations. I’m working closely with Mayor Adams and his administration to address these issues.”
In response to the call from the homeless and advocates, the DSS and Department for Homeless Services (DHS) say they have already ramped up outreach services during days of extreme heat, calling it a comprehensive and repeated effort to make contact with the vulnerable population. The DSS also say they distribute water and other items.
“Ensuring the health and safety of vulnerable New Yorkers is our top priority. During extreme weather conditions, our outreach teams redouble their 24X7 efforts across all five boroughs, implementing best practices and the latest health guidance as they engage New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness, connecting them to vital city resource to help seek respite from the heat, including cooling centers, DHS drop-in centers, shelter services, and other critical supports,” a DHS spokesperson said. “As part of our Code Red efforts during this heat wave, DHS and our provider-partner outreach teams are equipped with necessary supplies and continue to be out there around the clock, conducting enhanced efforts throughout and ensuring we are prioritizing the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers.”
Should any New Yorker see an individual who appears to be experiencing homelessness/in need outdoors in extreme heat/weather conditions, they should call 311; an outreach team will be dispatched to help.
