How heatwaves make life harder for homeless people

Cities trap heat in concrete and asphalt, and The Conversation reports that homeless people bear the brunt of it, often without access to public toilets or drinking water. In Manchester, charities have handed out cold drinks and suncream after reports of illness and sunburn among rough sleepers this summer. The risks go beyond discomfort: heat stroke, insomnia, and unsafe food storage are common, and in France, at least seventy-four people have died in unsupervised water since the June to July heatwaves began. The piece argues UK cities need more accessible cooling infrastructure, pointing to Toronto's citywide network of over five hundred signposted cool spaces as a model.

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