Unprecedented Heatwaves Highlight Struggles of America’s Most Impoverished Lacking Air Conditioning

As Denver flirts with triple-digit temperatures, Ben Gallegos, like many in the country’s most impoverished neighborhoods, must endure the scorching heat without the benefit of air conditioning. He sits bare-chested on his porch, battling flies and refreshing himself with a handheld misting fan.

The 68-year-old, with a lung condition that makes him more vulnerable to heat, uses mattress foam to shield his windows from the searing heat and sleeps in the cooler concrete basement. Living on a meager monthly income mainly from Social Security, he finds air conditioning an unaffordable luxury.

With climate change triggering more intense and prolonged heatwaves that are breaking temperature records across the US and claiming lives, the most impoverished Americans find themselves exposed to the worst of the heat with the least defenses. Air conditioning, once considered a luxury, has become essential for survival.

When Phoenix experienced its 27th day in a row of temperatures above 43 Celsius, those who died indoors lacked working air conditioning or had switched it off. According to Kristie Ebi, a professor at the University of Washington who studies heat and health, “Heat kills, and mortality begins within about 24 hours of a heatwave.”

A Boston University analysis found that the poorest and racial minorities from Kansas City to Detroit to New York City and beyond are significantly more likely to endure extreme heat without air conditioning.

Moreover, there are notable temperature disparities between wealthier neighborhoods and lower-income, predominantly non-white neighborhoods, resulting in severe consequences. While some might have window units providing a brief respite, these prove to be inadequate during the peak of the heat.

Federal funding aimed at helping to cover utility costs and installing cooling systems often falls short of helping the most vulnerable households. President Joe Biden has announced measures to combat extreme heat, including the expansion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. However, only about 16% of the eligible population benefits from the program, and almost half of the states do not provide federal funding for summer cooling.

The cost of cooling is increasing as temperatures continue to rise. In low-income neighborhoods, surface temperatures can be significantly hotter than in wealthier neighborhoods with more greenery, according to American Forests. This discrepancy is not only local but nationwide. One in ten U.S. households lacks air conditioning, a gap that widens for marginalized groups.

Although billions have been allocated for tax credits and rebates to help families install energy-efficient cooling systems through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, these benefits often prove to be out of reach for the most impoverished. Individuals like Gallegos, who does not pay taxes, find these credits useless.

For the most impoverished, cooling comfort seems elusive as extreme heatwaves continue unabated, exacerbating the struggles of America’s poorest citizens.

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News writers Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Kansas, and Corey Williams in Detroit.

Bedayn, a member of the Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, compiled this report. Report for America is a national nonprofit service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover underreported issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Heatwaves and poverty

More about Heatwaves and poverty

• Climate Change and Heatwaves
• Effects of Poverty on Health
• Air Conditioning and Energy Use
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• Impacts of Heatwaves on Health
• Racial and Economic Disparities in Housing and Health