Presentation description

Poor and unsafe air quality is a public health risk as it poses serious health dangers to those exposed. Some groups are disproportionately exposed to unsafe air quality and the illnesses that are caused by it. The unsheltered homeless population of Salt Lake City is exposed to the city's environmental hazards at high levels. Not only are they affected by hazards such as extreme heat and cold weather, they are directly exposed to episodic poor air quality each day that it occurs in the Salt Lake City region. People experiencing unsheltered homelessness may include people living on the street, in parks, alleyways, cars, abandoned buildings, and more. These individuals also may be using resources from shelters as well as residing in shelters temporarily. Living conditions for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness are highly affected by the surrounding poor air quality as well as extreme weather conditions. These environmental hazards cause the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people experiencing homelessness to be directly impacted. The disproportionate exposure to unsafe air quality and extreme weather among those experiencing homelessness poses large environmental justice concerns in the Salt Lake City area.|