Get Involved in Our Research
Our Under the Weather research explores how extreme weather affects people experiencing homelessness or living in unstable housing. As summers become hotter and more intense, we’re shifting our data collection from winter to heat, climate, and survival in extreme weather.
Photo used with permission of Indigo Junction
Summer Data Collection: Understanding Heat Impacts
We’re currently collecting summer-specific data to understand how heat affects health, safety, daily survival, and access to essential services for people without stable housing.
We’re working alongside homelessness services to:
Capture real-world impacts of extreme heat
Understand how people cope day-to-day in hot weather
Identify gaps in current responses
Photovoice Project: Partner with Us
We’ve developed a Photovoice Flyer that homelessness and community services can share with those that they support. The project invites people to document their experiences of hot weather through photos and stories.
Services can get involved by:
Sharing the flyer with people they support
Hosting or supporting participation in the project
Download the flyer here.
Share your Experience: Take the Survey
If you’ve experienced homelessness or unstable housing, we want to hear from you.
You’re the one living through it so you’re the best person to tell us what it’s really like and what’s really needed.
This survey helps us:
Understand the real impacts of heat
Reduce climate-related harm
Improve services and responses for people without a home
Why does the weather matter?
Shelter is a fundamental human right, and even more vital during periods of hot, cold, wet or stormy weather. But for people experiencing homelessness, they literally can’t escape climate and weather impacts.
Despite mounting concerns about climate change and efforts to mitigate it, many of the current policies, strategies and responses do not take into account the additional vulnerability of people without a home, or people living in substandard housing that cannot be heated or cooled.
As the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events increases worldwide, there is an urgent need for efforts to be made to reduce the impact of climate change related weather on homeless individuals.
“The weather is awful. The impact on the health and wellbeing of the rough sleeping community is just not acceptable.”
- Sharon Gough | CEO Indigo Junction
“The main thing that we needed was just somewhere to go. Because when you’re stuck outside 24/7 every day, you can’t hide from the sun, you can’t hide from the people, you can’t get away from the cold. You’re just out there, mate. It’s harsh, it really is.”
- Rockingham person experiencing homelessness
What are we doing about it?
Under the Weather research, evidence generation and advocacy
Our team is collaborating with some homelessness services and local governments to capture the impacts of weather and climate on the health and day to day survival of people experiencing homelessness. Click the icon above for more information, including how to get involved.
Forging connections with others who want to tackle these issues
Across Australia and in WA, there is growing momentum to raise awareness and implement actions to reduce the impacts of climate on people experiencing homelessness. email us if you would like to join these efforts or be kept in the loop. home2health@nd.edu.au
Cooling Hubs during heatwaves
Sydney is leading the way with innovative cooling hubs that are deployed during periods of acute or extended heat in summer. This evolved out of recognition of the effects of heat and heat stress on health, and has been co-designed with people with lived experience. Our team is excited to be now collaborating with this exciting initiative that is being jointly lead by City of Sydney, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, and University of Sydney.
