WASHINGTON – This Earth Week, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced several significant new measures by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) aimed at enhancing community resilience against extreme heat. Notably, HUD has launched an Extreme Heat webpage, marking the first time the agency has provided such a dedicated resource. This online hub details steps for communities to prepare for and tackle extreme heat, alongside funding options for climate resilience projects. Additionally, HUD introduced two new tools for technical assistance: an Extreme Heat Quick Guide, designed to aid in planning and mitigation efforts against extreme heat, and a focused webinar on managing both extreme heat and cold for improved community resilience. A stakeholder briefing on extreme heat is scheduled for May 23, 2024.
HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized the disproportionate impact of extreme heat on historically underserved communities and reiterated HUD’s commitment to raising awareness and supporting mitigation efforts at local and state levels.
Further strengthening its initiative, HUD is collaborating with more than 20 Federal agencies as part of the National Integrated Heat Health Information System. This partnership aims to enhance public understanding of extreme heat risks and devise strategies to minimize its adverse effects on communities nationwide.
Recently, HUD, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, unveiled a strategy to identify urban heat islands in 14 U.S. communities. Additionally, a roundtable was held in Puerto Rico to discuss climate resilience funding, aligning with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which ensures that Federal investments benefit historically marginalized communities.
These steps mark the beginning of a series of planned announcements by HUD to address the challenges of extreme heat.
For more information, read the original press release from: https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_24_088