Struggling tenants demanding solutions for combating apartment heatwaves from authorities
Canada and the United States are both addressing the issue of heat vulnerability among low-income groups, but their approaches differ significantly.
In Canada, primary assistance for air conditioners is provided through pilot programs at the municipal level. For instance, Toronto offers free portable air conditioners to low-income seniors with health-related cooling needs. Ontario's provincial government also allows individuals on income assistance to apply for air conditioners when municipal or First Nations programs are available [1][3]. However, these programs appear to be limited, with fewer federal or broad provincial initiatives specifically for air conditioners tied to health needs.
In contrast, the United States has more formalized and broader programs. New York State's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides air conditioners to low-income households with members over 65 or under 6, and a new program extends AC access to low-income adults with asthma, addressing health vulnerabilities exacerbated by heat [2]. Moreover, multiple U.S. states have policies preventing utility shut-offs during extreme heat to help low-income families maintain access to cooling [5].
The table below summarizes the key differences between the two countries:
| Aspect | Canada | United States | |------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Primary assistance programs | Pilot municipal programs (e.g., Toronto) offering free ACs to low-income seniors with health needs; some provincial allowance when municipal/First Nations programs apply[1][3] | State programs like HEAP provide AC for low-income elderly and children; new programs for adults with asthma; broader protections from utility shut-offs during heat[2][5] | | Target populations | Low-income seniors with health-related cooling needs mainly | Low-income households with elderly, young children, and adults with specific health issues like asthma[2] | | Scale & coverage | Limited, pilot, municipal-focused | More established and variable across states, with some federal funding support[2][5] | | Additional protections | Limited information | Utility shut-off protections in 17 states and DC during extreme heat periods to prevent loss of cooling access[5] |
While Canada is developing programs to address heat risks for vulnerable low-income groups, it lags behind some U.S. states in terms of scale, specific health condition coverage, and system-wide protections.
In Canada, individuals like Sandra Walsh from New Glasgow, N.S., who is struggling with her health due to high temperatures in her apartment, find themselves in dire straits. Despite her health condition and the high temperatures, her request for an air conditioner has been ignored [6]. Similarly, Marie Lourdes Garnier, a 75-year-old apartment dweller from Ottawa, struggles with high temperatures and finds herself growing faint during heat waves [7]. Garnier is not eligible for programs in Ontario that provide air conditioners for low-income renters because she is not receiving income assistance.
In response to these challenges, reports like "A Right to Cool" call for public cooling centres, access to free public transit, creation of affordable housing with passive shade systems, and solutions for buildings that can't support air conditioning [8][9]. The report also suggests the need for affordable housing that includes passive shade systems to reduce indoor heat.
As the number of people showing up at emergency rooms with heat-related problems continues to rise [10], it is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue in Canada.
- The rising number of people in Canada seeking help at emergency rooms due to heat-related problems suggests a need for more comprehensive solutions, such as the establishment of public cooling centers, access to free public transit, creation of affordable housing with passive shade systems, and solutions for buildings without air conditioning, as suggested in the report "A Right to Cool."
- While the mental health aspect of heat vulnerability among low-income groups might not be explicitly addressed in the ongoing initiatives in both Canada and the United States, the general news and environmental science communities should explore and discuss the potential mental health implications of prolonged exposure to extreme heat.
- To ensure equitable access to health-and-wellness resources, it is crucial for Canadian municipalities and provincial governments to expand their pilot programs for air conditioners to include a broader range of low-income populations, such as those with specific health issues like mental health concerns or chronic illnesses that exacerbate heat-related risks.
- As Canada and the United States continue to address heat vulnerability among low-income groups, government officials should consider the potential impacts of climate change on future heat waves and develop plans for health-focused adaptation strategies, integrating mental health, science, and environmental-science research into their public policies to minimize the adverse effects on vulnerable populations.
- The ongoing debate about crime-and-justice in both Canada and the United States should acknowledge the interplay between socioeconomic factors, such as availability of air conditioners to low-income groups, and criminogenic risks, as heat-related vulnerabilities may exacerbate social tensions, contribute to domestic disturbances, and impact overall community safety.
