A new report published by the Center for American Progress outlines how extreme weather events, fueled by climate change, are worsening America’s affordable housing and homelessness crises. Low-income Americans are more likely to experience displacement and homelessness as a result of natural disasters, to live in disaster-prone areas like flood plains, and to be exposed to environmental risks like high heat and pollution. They are also less likely to have the resources to prepare for and recover from natural disasters, which underscores the need to create more affordable, sturdy, weather-resilient housing for low-income Americans.
The report, “A Perfect Storm: Extreme Weather as an Affordable Housing Crisis Multiplier,” calls on policymakers to address climate change and housing issues simultaneously, which would not only save lives and money, but also improve the health and wellbeing of communities across the country.