Without a standard for recording and classifying heat-related deaths, experts believe the scale of the problem is much bigger than numbers let on.

As this summer's heat waves showed, extreme weather can take a deadly–and costly–toll on communities and infrastructure not prepared to handle rising temperatures. As Chloe Jones and Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado write, "[h]eat-related deaths are a growing concern for anyone exposed to the elements for long periods of time, or whose health conditions or age make them particularly at-risk in extreme weather conditions, as climate change intensifies temperatures." However, "[t]here isn’t a standard in how to record, count or classify" heat deaths, making it difficult to understand the scope of the problem.
"Deaths from the heat are not always reported as such and experts say many are undercounted or misclassified." Medically, "[t]he only way to accurately know whether someone died of heat or if their death was related to heat is if their body temperature is taken right before or immediately after their death." For people like farm workers, who are twenty times more likely to die from heat stress than other occupations, "[i]t is nearly impossible to understand the gravity and impact heat has on deaths, especially for people who work outdoors, without accurate data."
"If the scale of the problem isn’t known, it is difficult to roll out effective mitigation measures. Accurate data would potentially be able to push states and local jurisdictions toward addressing heat-related deaths more head-on, especially as temperatures continue to rise with climate change."
FULL STORY: We don’t know exactly how many people are dying from heat — here’s why

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
City of Madera
City of Santa Clarita
Borough of Carlisle
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Colorado Energy Office
Pima County Community College District
City of Piedmont, CA
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