University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository
Abstract
At the intersection of a homelessness epidemic and a climate crisis, a growing population is being left behind as the medical field advances. Upon presenting to a healthcare system, unsheltered homeless patients are typically more severely affected by medical and mental health conditions. Climate change exacerbates these conditions by leading to extreme weather and poor air quality. These, in turn, cause physical injury along with severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, and psychiatric effects. There are also negative health outcomes associated with increased physical displacement and infectious disease proliferation as temperatures rise. These health effects of climate change are more substantial for unsheltered homeless people due to their vulnerability intensified by rare intermittent access to healthcare resources. Identifying the direct impacts climate change has on the health of unsheltered homeless individuals provides an opportunity for those in the medical field to intervene and protect patients.
Recommended Citation
Burley J. The Effects of Climate Change on the Health of the Unsheltered Population. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2026; 8(1).
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