John, did you know heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States? 2023 set a record for the most heat deaths in the U.S. –– more than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined.  

People experiencing homelessness, low-income communities and people of color are at greatest risk for heat sickness and death. This is due in part to discriminatory housing practices and decades of disinvestment that have barred access to wealth and opportunity for many people in these communities. 

In this Vital Signs article (just a four-minute read), we explore how climate change touches so many areas of our lives, amplifying existing vulnerabilities and making social crises, like homelessness, worse. 

You’ll read about Memphis, one of the most climate vulnerable places in the United States, and the people who navigated homelessness through its brutal winter nights and warmest summer on record. 

You’ll also learn about EDF’s Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI), a tool to identify the communities affected first and worst by climate change. It examines a community’s potential for extreme weather and ability to adapt to changing conditions, considering income levels, housing security, access to health care and transportation. 

When it comes to what the CVI can do, EDF scientist Grace Tee Lewis says it best: