Utah needs a 'Code Red' policy to protect people experiencing homelessness from extreme heat, according to a new report from University of Utah researchers. The report, released Monday, examines how high temperatures impact those living unsheltered in the Salt Lake Valley and offers recommendations for lawmakers to address a lack of cooling resources during summer months.
The researchers interviewed 24 individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the Salt Lake Valley. Participants reported suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydration, sleep disruption, and emotional strain, noting limited access to shade, water, and restrooms. Further data was collected from eight participants who used GPS-enabled smartphones and backpack-mounted weather monitors over six summer days. This data revealed that these individuals routinely experienced hazardous conditions, including prolonged exposure to moderate and high-risk heat thresholds, with temperatures greater than 91 degrees Fahrenheit and 102.9 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.
The study also looked into how Salt Lake City businesses respond when people experiencing homelessness seek refuge from the heat in storefronts. Researchers noted that businesses "frequently become de facto heat refuges" when public cooling resources are insufficient. However, the report stated that businesses' "capacity is limited and their practices are too variable to substitute for coordinated public cooling infrastructure."
Of about 30 business employees, managers, and owners interviewed, approximately 77% reported having no restrictions on who could enter their storefronts, and 73% reported no set customer time limits. Despite this, about half of the policies governing access and interactions with people experiencing unsheltered homelessness "were informal and case-by-case." Only 30% of businesses reported corporate guidance for these situations, and 37% changed their practices during extreme weather. While some businesses offered water or allowed people to cool off indoors, others "expressed concern that doing so might attract more" people experiencing homelessness. A majority, 60%, mentioned they had "personal guidelines for engaging and communicating" with people experiencing homelessness, often stating they aimed to "treat everyone the same," "treat them kindly," "treat them with respect," and "treat them with empathy."
These findings led researchers to conclude that "thermal equity" is both an infrastructure and governance issue. They noted that exposure to heat is intensified by limited access to shade, water, sanitation, indoor cooling, and secure places to rest. The report also cautioned that interventions can sometimes work against one another, such as displacement from a shaded location forcing someone into hotter conditions, or restricted bathroom and water access increasing health risks.
To address these issues, the researchers provided a list of recommendations for policymakers:
* Establish a "Code Red" policy for extreme heat emergencies, similar to the existing "Code Blue Alert" for cold weather, which would expand shelter capacity and cooling resources. * Provide dedicated, accessible cooling centers. * Improve access to drinking water and public restrooms. * Expand shade infrastructure and green spaces. * Develop public awareness campaigns on heat risks. * Offer incentives for businesses to provide cooling resources. * Incorporate thermal equity into urban planning.
These recommendations come after recent legislative efforts to establish such policies have failed. In 2025, a bill sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, which would have allowed shelters to flex their capacity by up to 35% during dangerously hot weather, failed in the House on a 21-49 vote. Earlier this year, another bill by Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, sought to allow certain shelters to expand capacity if local temperatures reached or exceeded 105 degrees Fahrenheit, but this also failed in the House on a 34-37 vote.
While housing remains the most effective long-term protection from extreme heat, researchers stressed that housing alone does not address immediate risks. They concluded that "expanding equitable access to trees, water, sanitation, cooling, and secure public space can reduce preventable heat exposure while creating a more inclusive urban climate-adaptation system."
