Extreme Heat Exacerbates Challenges for Unhoused in Salt Lake City

Study reveals unsheltered people's resourceful strategies to manage oppressive summer temperatures

Mar. 19, 2026 at 7:24am

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A study by researchers at the University of Utah examined the effects of extreme heat on people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Salt Lake City. By equipping a cohort of 10 unhoused participants with temperature loggers and GPS-enabled smartphones, the researchers were able to track the ambient temperatures they faced and the coping strategies they employed, such as seeking refuge in fast-food restaurants and riding public transit solely for climate-controlled respite. The findings highlight the constant struggle unhoused individuals face in regulating their body temperatures and the inequity of cooling resources in the urban landscape, underscoring the need for both short-term solutions like more public cooling spaces as well as long-term solutions focused on increasing access to permanent supportive housing.

Why it matters

As urban development and climate change produce hotter conditions each year, the effects of extreme heat on unhoused populations are becoming increasingly severe. This research sheds light on the daily challenges faced by those without reliable shelter, and the need for a multi-pronged approach to address homelessness that includes both immediate relief efforts and long-term housing solutions.

The details

The study, supported by the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, tracked the experiences of 10 unhoused individuals in Salt Lake City over a six-day period in the summer of 2024. Participants carried temperature loggers that recorded ambient temperatures every 10 seconds, as well as GPS-enabled smartphones to cross-reference temperature data with location. Interviews with the participants revealed resourceful coping strategies, such as a "Frosty Time" arrangement with a fast-food restaurant manager, and using free bus rides solely to access the climate-controlled transit vehicles. The data showed extreme temperature fluctuations, with one logger recording 134°F in a paved parking lot, followed by a plunge to 67°F when the participant entered the restaurant.

  • The study was conducted over a six-day period in the summer of 2024.

The players

Jeff Rose

An associate professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and an affiliate faculty with Environmental Humanities at the University of Utah, whose research focuses on the social and environmental justice elements of homelessness.

Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy

The research center that supported the study on the effects of extreme heat on unhoused populations in Salt Lake City.

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What they’re saying

“This research points to several short-term solutions that could reduce the constant strain of environmental factors on people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.”

— Jeff Rose, Associate Professor

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue their study, exploring additional strategies unhoused individuals use to manage extreme temperatures and advocating for policy changes to improve access to cooling resources and permanent supportive housing.

The takeaway

This study highlights the urgent need to address the disproportionate impact of extreme heat on unhoused populations, both through immediate relief efforts and long-term solutions that prioritize access to stable, affordable housing as a fundamental human right and public health necessity.