Arizona’s Worsening Public Health Heat Crisis: A Plea for Housing Reform

Recent reports from the ADHS underscore the worsening trend of increasing deaths and hospitalizations from heat related illnesses in Arizona – especially among the unhoused.

The “Heat-Related Illness Emergency Department and Inpatient Admissions in Arizona by Year, 2019-2023” and “Heat-Related Mortality Year 2012-2023” reports highlight a troubling increase in heat-related health outcomes and mortality, with unhoused individuals bearing the brunt of this escalating crisis.

Heat Related Mortality in Arizona: 2012-2023

Heat Related ED and Inpatient Hospitalizations in AZ: 2019-2023

Heat-Related Illnesses Continue to Rise

Between 2019 and 2023, Arizona experienced a marked increase in heat-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions. The report shows that the number of such cases has steadily risen, with 2023 recording some of the highest figures. 

The reports indicate that certain populations are disproportionately affected. Older adults, individuals with pre-existing health conditions, outdoor workers, and especially those who are unhoused are at significantly higher risk.

The unhoused population in particular is over 500 times more likely to die from heat-related causes compared to housed individuals. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect the most vulnerable.

Heat-Related Mortality: A Growing Crisis

The “Heat-Related Mortality” report highlights a disturbing trend: a sharp increase in deaths attributed to extreme heat over the past decade.

The data reveals that heat-related mortality has been rising steadily, with a significant jump in deaths in recent years. In 2023 alone, the number of heat-related deaths in Arizona reached unprecedented levels.

Maricopa County and Pima Counties are the epicenters of this crisis. The high concentration of unhoused people there (especially in the urban areas) drive the elevated mortality rates.

Despite the implementation of several interventions by county health departments and the cities of Phoenix and Tucson—including cooling centers, water distribution, and public awareness campaigns—these efforts have not been sufficient to curb the rising death toll.

The Role of Housing and Policy Reform

While local interventions have provided some relief, the root causes of the crisis remain largely unaddressed. Arizona’s ongoing housing affordability crisis and our antiquated and landlord-favoring Landlord and Tenant Act, exacerbates the vulnerability of at-risk populations, particularly the unhoused.

The Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA) has highlighted the urgent need for housing reform as a critical component in addressing heat-related mortality.

Evictions, Homelessness & Heat Related Deaths: Is Arizona’s Antiquated Landlord & Tenant Act Part of Our Problem?

Updating Arizona’s Landlord-Tenant Act: A Crucial Step to Prevent Evictions and Save Lives

The state’s failure to provide adequate affordable housing options has left thousands of individuals exposed to life-threatening heat conditions. Moreover, the current landlord-tenant laws and restrictive zoning driven by Nimbyism make it difficult for renters to secure and maintain stable housing and for developers to build affordable multi-family housing.

Unless profound changes are made to create more affordable housing and reform Arizona’s landlord-tenant laws to offer better protections for renters and preempting cities’ overly restrictive zoning limits driven by Nimbyism the homelessness crisis will continue to exacerbate the state’s already staggering heat-related mortality rates.

Local interventions, while valuable, will never be enough to stem the tide of deaths among the unhoused population,