I’ve had too many shut calls with elevated twister exercise right here in Louisville, KY, and the summer time warmth appears extra insufferable annually. After a winter that introduced horrible storms, I’m bracing for “Hazard Season,”—the interval between Could and October when North America experiences its worst local weather impacts. It appears to be beginning earlier and lasting longer.
Hazard Season 2025 could convey much more excessive impacts because the local weather disaster intensifies—this data makes me worry for the security of my household and my family members. I enable myself to really feel worry and grieve for what’s misplaced. I consider the phrases in Frank Herbert’s Dune:
“Concern is the mind-killer. Concern is the little-death that brings whole obliteration. I’ll face my worry. I’ll allow it to cross over me and thru me.”
This helps me do not forget that I gained’t enable worry to maintain me from discovering braveness and combating for a safer world—for my son, for my group, for all of us.
When local weather change comes knocking at our door, we must be ready. That’s the reason we should deal with the local weather disaster and the reasonably priced housing disaster on the similar time.
Dwelling appears totally different for all of us, and due to that we should pursue equitable options to make folks safer the place they stay.
From flooded trailers in KY
…to fallen bushes in South Carolina when Hurricane Helene minimize an 800 mile path throughout the southeast…
and cell properties destroyed by hurricanes.
When the shortage of air con behind jail doorways makes excessive warmth a demise sentence,
and when people who find themselves experiencing homelessness should discover reduction the place they’ll when a warmth dome encompasses Portland.
When the ocean has compelled its approach proper by means of the doorways of Summer time Haven properties,
and when fireplace consumes all the pieces {that a} household has labored for.
When households should pack up what they’ll and evacuate,
and renters and public housing are hit notably laborious…
even when we’re protected in our doorway, we gained’t thrive if our group just isn’t ready
…as a result of we will’t do that alone.
“The measure of whether or not or not a group is resilient is the way it protects folks from the inevitable.” –Andreanecia Morris, Government Director for Housing NOLA
Local weather-driven threat will make the continued housing disaster worse and would have disproportionate impacts on low-income households and communities of shade, together with people who find themselves incarcerated or experiencing homelessness.
Proper now, we want elected officers and authorities businesses from the native to the federal degree doing all the pieces attainable to make sure folks have protected, reasonably priced, climate-resilient housing and sources to get well from disasters. The US Division of Housing and City Growth (HUD) is a vital company for assembly our housing wants, but Elon Musk is making an attempt to chop employees and render HUD inoperable in his unlawful seize for energy.
Fortunately, he’s dealing with pushback. The Authorities Accountability Workplace has dedicated to investigating the impression on honest housing enforcement in response to a petition led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, Rating Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and City Affairs Committee. We’ll want sustained motion to maintain Elon’s palms off HUD and to put money into reasonably priced, climate-safe housing nationwide.
Name your Senators as we speak and inform them to maintain Elon’s palms off HUD and to put money into reasonably priced, climate-safe housing.
For speaking factors, discuss with this nationwide letter signed by UCS and housing justice organizations.
