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Don’t neglect the homeless during the summer

Friday, August 10 at 3:37 PM

This Speakout has not been edited.

By Randle Loeb

It is a wonder that more women were not molested than previously when there was no shelter for them from May until October. Dolores Project finally has a major program year round for women. There were many reasons that the winter count of the homeless and the mandatory emergency shelters, with over flow take place in the months of December through March. It is not unreasonable to assume that men, women, and children would be left to their own devices in the summer months. It is cheaper not to house emergency sheltered people from the spring until fall. It is however, at the peril of the poor that they are victims to both temperature extremes of the summer and winter, and in some ways it is more dangerous at this time of the year.

It is hard to get out of oppressive 100 degree days and many times nights that are stagnant until early morning. When I used to live outdoors it was hardest of all early in the morning in the winter, when temperatures dipped to the lowest temperatures, before the sun alit on the cold pavements. Often we shivered or stayed in a stupor fending off the cold until the rays of sun finally awakened us if not the din of traffic. In the winter the temperature shifts from day to day, even in the spring and fall meant sudden death to people exposed who had not adapted. It takes time for a farmer to get used to the regimen of the planting season, and likewise a person left out on his or her own feels the twinge of cold that can occur from winds and changes in the conditions outside.

This is far more likely when it is hottest. One loses a lot of water and with that an ability to protect the body from hyperthermia. The heat sucks out the energy from a person who is not able to find a shady place to remain and a cool breeze. It is harder when you are using drugs and drinking to maintain an equilibrium, but assuming that people are safe in the heat of summer is questionable reasoning.

We need to maintain misting or shower facilities for people to get out of the heat, especially older people who are at risk of heat exhaustion. We have to provide places to obtain water easily, and hydrate the overly hot person. We need places that a person can get off the street and out of the heat. Even the feet burn with inadequate dry, clean socks and shoes.

The wet bulb temperature for cold and wet conditions is a wonderful gauge of at risk circumstances for homeless people. It is clear that a similar index needs to be assessed for the heat of the night and summer scorching days.

Randle Loeb is a resident of Denver.

READER COMMENTS

Randie, you can do anything you like with your money. you can set up a misting station, etc. awww, but that's not what you want, is it? You want OTHERS to foot the bill for your pet project.

You do realize that there are real people who WORK in this heat every day. Should we set up misters for them as well? Why don't you just buy them all a house and give them air conditioning... with your money, of course.

Posted by Dravur on August 17, 2007 11:55 PM

Some of us have to actually work in jobs that are outside or even inside with no air conditioning (public schools in district 50). So we all have to deal with ambient temperatures. Can someone please mist me?

Posted by yes it is hot so on August 11, 2007 09:52 PM

Perhaps this should have been edited. I THINK I understand the sentiments, but a good editor could have made this much easier to read.

Posted by Kevin on August 11, 2007 09:59 AM