How does Jackson's unhoused population cope with extreme weather?

Note: This is the third story in a continuing series on homelessness in Mississippi. The first story focused on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling where cities can now criminalize sleeping outside, even when there's no shelter.The second story explored issues pertaining to trash in abandoned encampments.

Mississippians are no stranger to the state's extreme weather from sweltering heat waves to brief, but detrimental winter freezes.

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With either end of the temperature spectrum, the best solution to avoiding weather risks is to stay inside.

Generally, those with air conditioning and heating can avoid major risks such as heat exhaustion in the hotter months and frostbite in the colder months.

But, for people without reliable shelter, a near constant exposure to the elements means increased risk for weather-related emergencies or even death.

Previous Clarion Ledger reporting shows that of the nearly 1,000 people unhoused in Mississippi, a third of that population resides in Jackson. According to those statistics, upward of 300 people in Jackson face the risks of extreme weather exposure in any given season.

Because the unhoused communities are often not well accounted for, this number could be significantly more.

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Heat waves

For unhoused individuals, staying inside an air-conditioned building when the Mississippi heat runs rampant is not an option.

Heat exhaustion can sneak up quickly and progress into heat stroke, which can cause lasting damage to the brain. Fainting is one of the most common signs of heat stroke.

DeeDee Moore, Stewpot outreach specialist, said that while doing routine rounds at Jackson unhoused encampments, there have been multiple instances where she has found a resident lying unconscious. She said in those instances, she will put cooling rags and ice on the person to prevent further illness.

Moore said during the hotter summer months, she consistently keeps a cooler full of ice, waters, Gatorades and cooling rags in the trunk of her car to pass out to the encampment residents or anyone she passes while driving.

Unhoused individuals also face a greater risk of heat-related illness due to underlying conditions which disproportionately affect those populations including cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, alcoholism and cognitive impairment.

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Solutions

Many cities around the globe have found success with cooling centers, often local churches and community centers, open to those who don't have reliable air conditioning. In the past, Jackson has opened several cooling centers which also include device charging stations and ice pickup.

Cooling centers, however, have limits, especially for unhoused individuals.

Getting to one of the cooling centers requires reliable transportation. In a city such as Jackson with public transportation issues that leaves anyone without a car in a difficult position. Beyond taking the bus, transportation options such as riding a bike or walking to the cooling centers may exacerbate a heat-related illness.

The cooling centers also typically have a schedule, opening during the day and shutting doors at night. Others open during early morning hours and close in the afternoon. The centers do not provide a sustainable solution for people without permanent shelter. Anyone without internet access will also find it difficult to keep up with the cooling center locations and hours.

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Winter freezes

After the Mississippi heat subsides, there are only a few months of relief until the winter weather replaces risks of heat stroke with risks of freezing.

Like the summer cooling centers, there are shelters around Jackson that provide heat and meals to unhoused individuals during winter months.

However, Moore said there are often several reasons why someone would avoid going to one of those shelters even when the temperatures dip below freezing. Many people decline to go even when offered a ride to the shelters.

Moore said she has seen several people avoid shelters due to mental health issues. Someone suffering from anxiety or other mental illnesses find it too difficult to live in a shelter with several other people.

Many unhoused individuals prefer to live on their own to avoid the restrictions of the shelters. Maintaining a sense of independence is the most common influence when declining a ride to a shelter.

For much of Jackson's unhoused population, the solution to the summer heat or the winter freezes is just to power through it.

Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson's unhoused population often left vulnerable to extreme weather