The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its first actions to address extreme heat in affordable housing properties on April 23. The agency established an internal working group to improve resilience to extreme heat; HUD also published a “Quick Guide for Extreme Heat” and launched a centralized library of technical assistance resources.

According to HUD, the world recorded the warmest year on record in 2023. Across the United States, heat records were broken, including Phoenix, Arizona experiencing 31 consecutive days above 110°F, and Chicago, Illinois reaching a heat index of 120°F. Many affordable senior housing communities lack the resources they need to address extreme heat impacts on older adult residents.