A new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), “Colliding Crises: The Dangers of Extreme Heat in Affordable Housing,” finds that Texas has the highest number of affordable homes exposed to repeated extreme heat events in the nation—more than 600,000 affordable units experienced at least one week of dangerous heat alerts in 2024, the hottest year on record. Nearly 570,000 of those units endured three or more weeks of alerts.
The analysis examined nearly 8 million affordable homes nationwide—including public housing, LIHTC properties, project-based rental housing, and manufactured homes—and found that 80% were exposed to at least one week of extreme heat. Texas topped the list, followed by California and New York, underscoring the scale of the climate and housing intersection in the state.
Key Findings for Texas
• High exposure across housing types: Roughly 83% of LIHTC and public housing units in Texas were in counties that faced prolonged heat alerts.
• Disproportionate risk for low-income and minority residents: Communities of color, seniors, and families in older housing stock are most exposed to urban heat islands and least likely to have access to affordable cooling.
• Manufactured housing vulnerability: Many Texas manufactured home parks are located in areas with limited shade, poor insulation, and aging HVAC systems—making them particularly unsafe during sustained heat waves.
Read the full UCS report: Colliding Crises: The Dangers of Extreme Heat in Affordable Housing (Union of Concerned Scientists)