Table 1.
Included reviews: characteristics and identified themes.
| Authors | Year | Focus Areas | Type of Review | Resources Included | Themes | Relevant Results and Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bassil & Cole [12] | 2010 | U.K., Canada, U.S., France, Czech Republic, Portugal | Systematic: structured review | 14 records: peer-reviewed articles and grey literature | Heat and cold | Unclear if heat alerts reach the vulnerable populations |
| Coburn & Sverdlik [13] | 2017 | Latin American, African and Asian cities | Systematic: structured review | 19 projects; 39 records: peer-reviewed articles and grey literature | Housing | Slum upgrading initiatives more successful when based on state-community interaction |
| Costello et al. [14] | 2009 | Global | Non-systematic | N/A | Health | Lack of resources (especially housing and water) increases vulnerability to infectious and vector-borne diseases |
| Structural factors | Housing issues of those living in poverty intensify due to climate change; they should be addressed by the local government | |||||
| Dodman [15] | 2009 | Global | Non-systematic: analytical review | N/A | Structural factors | Greenhouse gas emissions may increase as a result of de-densification policies |
| Housing | State-community interaction important for successful slum upgrading; local dwellers’ knowledge should be used in housing development | |||||
| Fothergill & Peek [16] | 2004 | U.S. | Non-systematic: literature review | N/A | Natural disasters | Shelter capacity can be exceeded; displacement increases homelessness; low SES more effected |
| Housing | Low-income housing quality and affordability should be addressed by local government | |||||
| Gibson [17] | 2019 | U.S. | Non-systematic: literature review | N/A | Natural disasters | Resources of organizations providing support strained; hamper the efforts of those recovering from homelessness |
| Housing | Increase availability of affordable housing by implementing more cost-effective strategies | |||||
| Gronlund et al. [18] | 2018 | U.S. | Non-systematic: narrative review | N/A | Heat and cold | Health and lives of homeless populations at increased risk during extreme weather events |
| Jessel et al. [19] | 2019 | U.S. and Global North | Systematic: literature review | 162 records: books, peer-reviewed articles, reports | Risk factors | Energy insecurity is exacerbated by climate change; contributes to increase in homelessness due to evictions |
| Health | Energy insecurity has negative direct and indirect impacts on health; adverse effect on mental health | |||||
| Kjellstrom & Mercado [20] | 2008 | Global | Non-systematic | N/A | Risk factors | It is projected that increasing numbers of people will become environmental refugees and end up in slums due to climatic events |
| Health | Negative health effects of climate change are projected to result from climatic events and increase in diseases | |||||
| Structural factors | Addressing structural changes requires funding from high-income to low-income countries | |||||
| Leichenko & Silva [21] | 2014 | Global | Non-systematic: literature review | N/A | Risk factors | Migration due to climatic events from rural areas to urban slums; the poorest might not have resources to migrate |
| Health | Expected increase in diseases effecting the poor; mental health is undermined by loss, relocation, stress, and anxiety | |||||
| Ramin & Svoboda [22] | 2009 | North America | Non-systematic: literature review | N/A | Heat and cold | Increased vulnerability to heat due to preexisting health conditions; more exposed to heat island effect in urban and suburban areas |
| Health | Increase in infectious and vector-borne diseases, exacerbated by preexisting health conditions; minor positive impacts of climate change | |||||
| Structural factors | To mitigate health effects on homeless populations, more policies aimed at reducing air pollution should be implemented | |||||
| Natural disasters | Increased vulnerability of the homeless populations; lack of inclusivity in disaster planning | |||||
| Shonkoff et al. [23] | 2011 | U.S. (California) | Non-systematic: literature review | N/A | Risk factors | Vulnerably housed lack resources to prepare, respond and recover from climatic events |
| Heat and cold | Low SES groups effected most adversely by extreme heat events; exacerbated by lack of access to resources | |||||
| Health | Preexisting health conditions increase vulnerability | |||||
| Sverdlik [24] | 2011 | Global | Non-systematic: literature review | N/A | Heat and cold | Vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries at increased risk from heatwaves |
| Health | Anticipated increase in diseases, exacerbated by preexisting health conditions | |||||
| Tanner et al. [25] | 2013 | Global (economically developed countries) | Systematic: narrative approach | 33 records: 1 systematic review; 19 individual-level studies; 13 studies using ecological data |
Heat and cold | Precariously housed low SES groups are more exposed to health risks associated with cold weather and also experience negative social outcomes |
| Titz and Chiotha [26] | 2019 | Global (focus on Africa) | Systematic: literature review | Total records unspecified: peer-reviewed articles and book chapters | Structural factors | Green infrastructure as a response to climate change; issues of ecogentrification should be addressed by inclusivity in urban planning |