Protecting Mobile Home and RV Owners from Extreme Heat: A Public Health Imperative
Extreme heat is one of the deadliest climate threats, disproportionately affecting mobile home and RV owners across the U.S. As climate change intensifies heat waves, targeted interventions are essential to protect residents in these communities. Recognizing this urgent need, we have helped establish a partnership with Maricopa County Public Health, the American Red Cross, and the City of Phoenix Heat Response Team to develop a coordinated, data-driven strategy to mitigate heat-related risks.
Why Are Mobile Home and RV Residents So Vulnerable?
Mobile home and RV communities are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat due to several factors:
Insufficient Insulation & Poor Ventilation: Many mobile homes are built with materials that absorb and retain heat, making cooling difficult and costly.
Limited Access to Cooling Centers & Transportation: Residents often lack reliable transit options, leaving them stranded during extreme heat events.
High Energy Costs & Utility Insecurity: Many mobile home residents are on fixed or low incomes, making air conditioning unaffordable.
Health Disparities: A significant portion of residents are seniors, people with chronic illnesses, and low-income families, all at higher risk of heat-related illnesses.
Urban Heat Island Effect: Many mobile home parks are located in areas with minimal tree cover and high pavement density, exacerbating heat exposure.
Building a Community-Centered Response
To address these challenges, our partnership has implemented key strategies to increase community resilience:
Targeted Outreach & Education: Using Arizona’s Social Vulnerability Index, we identified 11 mobile home parks at the highest risk. Outreach efforts provide life-saving information on cooling resources, energy assistance, and heat mitigation.
Resource Distribution & Direct Aid: In collaboration with the Red Cross and City of Phoenix, we distribute cooling kits, water, and emergency preparedness materials directly to residents.
Community Mobilization & Volunteer Efforts: Trained volunteers conduct wellness checks and provide door-to-door support to ensure residents have access to available services.
Policy & Infrastructure Advocacy: We are working with policymakers to explore sustainable interventions, such as reflective cooling paint pilot programs, expanded tree coverage, and increased investment in affordable cooling solutions.
Lessons for Cities Nationwide
This effort in Phoenix serves as a model for other cities grappling with rising heat extremes. By leveraging local data, cross-sector collaboration, and direct community engagement, municipalities can create targeted interventions to protect vulnerable populations.
As extreme heat becomes an escalating public health crisis, urban planners, policymakers, and advocates must prioritize proactive, community-driven strategies that address systemic vulnerabilities in mobile home and RV communities.
How You Can Help
Ensuring equitable climate resilience requires collective action. Cities, nonprofits, and individuals can contribute by:
Supporting community-led outreach programs that provide direct aid to at-risk residents.
Advocating for local and federal policies that expand access to cooling infrastructure and financial assistance.
Investing in green infrastructure like increased tree planting and urban cooling initiatives in vulnerable neighborhoods.
The work we are doing in Phoenix is just the beginning.
Extreme heat is a public health crisis—but through collective action, we can build safer, more resilient communities