Challenges for the Homeless During Natural Disasters

Natural disasters like wildfires pose unique and heightened risks for individuals experiencing homelessness, requiring them to adapt quickly to new circumstances. Displaced individuals face barriers in accessing emergency shelters while simultaneously contending with the loss of personal supplies, like tarps and temporary housing solutions. The rapid nature of these evacuations creates overwhelming challenges as people must navigate a sudden influx of new individuals experiencing homelessness, often for the first time. Recovery from such disasters becomes an even greater burden for the homeless, who not only must find basic resources but also cope with the psychological impact of their sudden displacement.