CHICAGO—In East Garfield Park, Dhruv Trivedi sits anxiously in a large, air-conditioned community center, awaiting news about a shelter bed for the night.
With the outside temperature soaring to a sweltering 95 degrees, Trivedi, who has been unhoused for four months after losing his job, is facing the harsh realities of summer heat without a secure place to stay.
His situation has deteriorated in recent weeks as the temperatures have risen, leading to nights filled with dehydration and headaches from enduring the heat outdoors.
The Garfield Community Service Center, a designated cooling area, is offering temporary respite but will close at 5 p.m. this afternoon.
Staff are working hard to arrange shelter beds for those needing assistance, yet with high demand, Trivedi remains uncertain about what awaits him that night.
The extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change, poses severe risks especially for unhoused individuals.
Although cooling centers like the one Trivedi is in can provide short-term relief, the closing hours leave many without safe options to escape the dangerously high temperatures.
Research indicates that unhoused people disproportionately suffer from heat-related illnesses and fatalities, a trend likely to increase as climate change advances.
Experts warn that under a low-emissions scenario, Chicago could see heat waves as deadly as the infamous 1995 event—which claimed over 700 lives—occur every other year or more frequently under higher emissions scenarios.
In the same room as Trivedi, 65-year-old Curtis Hackett waits quietly on a plastic chair, his walking cane resting next to him.
Hackett has been unhoused for over 15 years and recalls especially harsh nights during last weekend’s heat wave.
As the air conditioning in the room triggers arthritis pain in his knee, he explains that the oppressive heat outdoors triggers both his asthma and bronchitis.
“When I’m out there, it’ll choke me,” he says, describing the desperate need to seek shelter inside.
Medical professionals note that prolonged exposure to high temperatures, particularly at night without relief, can lead to severe health risks.
Records show that recent nights in Chicago have set minimum temperature records, remaining dangerously warm and leading to increased discomfort and health complications for vulnerable populations.
Hackett characterizes the heat by saying, “It’s like you got a mask on. It’s just like you got a fan on and it’s blowing hot air.”
With over 150 million people across the nation receiving warnings about extreme weather, officials in Chicago have urged all residents to take precautions to stay safe.
Yet these warnings don’t always translate into actionable measures for unhoused individuals.
To mitigate heat stress, the city has made available more than 200 cooling areas, including six community service centers, satellite senior centers, libraries, police departments, and park amenities.
However, the Garfield Community Service Center—open during the weekend—was the only one among the six centers that provided refuge, with many others closing their doors.
Located in the predominantly Black and low-income neighborhood of East Garfield Park, the center had reached peak occupancy during the weekend, servicing around a dozen visitors daily while others remained empty.
Healthcare provider Anna Patterson, the president of Chicago Street Medicine, highlighted the limitations of these cooling centers, noting that mere availability may not meet the diverse needs of everyone affected.
While the city does have resources such as shelters and drop-in centers for unhoused individuals, the reality remains stark: nearly 19,000 people were counted living without shelter in Chicago on a single night last year.
Local activists have long pointed to the deficits within these systems, particularly the scarcity of shelter options during non-business hours.
Monica Dillon, a retired nurse actively volunteering with Northwest Side Outreach, voiced her concerns about last year’s cooling center closures during extreme heat.
During this current heat wave, Dillon noted having to call paramedics for two unhoused individuals showing signs of heat stress.
She also pointed out that many city-designated cooling sites were either inaccessible or went underutilized as alternatives.
Many city libraries saw traffic, but outdoor solutions like park splash pads were not practical for adults or seniors needing relief from sweltering conditions.
Dillon emphasized that while police stations are listed as 24/7 cooling sites, many unhoused individuals may not feel comfortable seeking shelter in those locations.
In her words, “We must dismantle the barriers to our designated cooling sites to ensure they are truly accessible, welcoming, and consistently open—especially during peak heat hours and on weekends.
The lives of our most vulnerable residents depend on immediate and decisive action.”
Advocates argue, however, that simply providing shelter or cooling options does not address the core issue of homelessness.
Ishaan Kumar, a medical student volunteering with Chicago Street Medicine, stated, “Anything that is not directly targeting the primary insult, which is houselessness, is a kind of Band-Aid solution.
The cure is a house, a home.”
The dangerous conditions of high temperatures can lead to major health concerns such as dehydration, confusion, heatstroke, and even death.
In fact, nationally, heat-related deaths surpass fatalities from any other form of extreme weather, and the trend is on the rise across both global and U.S. statistics.
Symptoms associated with heat illnesses encompass dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and in severe cases, heat stroke.
According to Jacob Martin, public information coordinator for the Chicago Department of Public Health, early reports indicate increased emergency visits among elderly residents during the recent heat wave.
The city continues to gather data regarding the health impacts of extreme heat, and officials are also tasked with developing training for street outreach workers to help serve individuals facing homelessness effectively.
Martin encourages the public to educate themselves about the signs of heat-related illness and to take public health advice to stay safe during future heat waves.
In the crowded space of the Garfield Community Service Center, Tom Dukes is among the patrons seeking help.
He sits next to Trivedi, with a rolling suitcase at his side, discussing plans to acquire a copy of his birth certificate, a crucial step toward securing housing.
Dukes also sleeps outside most nights nearby a police station and reflects on how unbearable the heat has been.
“The heat is miserable,” he laments.
“It kind of makes you dizzy here and there.”
Meanwhile, Trivedi, who emigrated from Mumbai, India, to pursue education in California five years ago, grapples with the loneliness of his situation.
His family remains in Mumbai, and despite frequent communication, he refrains from sharing the full extent of his struggles, determined to not worry them.
Feeling isolated in Chicago, where he lacks a support network, he admits, “I don’t know anybody over here. This is a completely new city for me.”
As the clock nears 5 p.m., Trivedi realizes he still hasn’t been matched with a shelter bed for the night.
City employees guide him and other visitors back to the street, where the heat continues to bear down, and the sun remains high.
A Salvation Army van arrives, distributing juice and soup, providing some nourishment to those gathered outside.
Trivedi boards a city bus, clutching several bags of his belongings, holding onto hope for a place to stay.
But as night falls with temperatures still lingering in the 80s, he faces another night spent outside.
image source from：insideclimatenews
