McGowan: Why residents in mobile homes are more at risk in extreme heat, how they can stay protected

Kelly McGowan

MARION RHOADES PHOTOGRAPHY

Residents of mobile homes are six to eight times more likely to perish from indoor heat exposure compared with residents of other types of housing, according to Arizona State University Knowledge Exchange for Resilience.

In Arizona summers, where extreme heat days are frequent, people living in mobile homes face disproportionately higher risks. For those seeking a reprieve from the heat and hurdles that come with it — such as heat-related illnesses (and even death), high utility costs, and expensive HVAC repairs — resources are available.

Why are people living in mobile homes more at risk?

Mobile homes make up approximately 5% of housing in Maricopa County, according to KER. While this may seem small in comparison to the total housing stock, an alarming 40% of indoor deaths happen in mobile homes.

Several contributing factors make mobile home occupants more vulnerable to heat-related health concerns and death:

• Parks preventing installations of cooling units: Previously, mobile home park rules could prevent tenants from installing window air conditioning units and sunshades on their homes. This restriction was recently eliminated with the passage of House Bill 2146, which mandates that Arizona mobile home parks allow residents to install commercially accepted cooling methods, regardless of community aesthetic guidelines. This is a meaningful improvement considering mobile home residents who died from heat were twice as likely to not have A/C present compared to those in other types of housing, according to KER.
• Inoperable A/C units: A Maricopa County report revealed most indoor heat-related deaths in 2023 occurred in uncooled environments. In 85% of cases, an air conditioning unit was on-site but non-functioning.
• Limited access to utility bill assistance: Many mobile home parks use master meters, where the landlord is billed directly by the utility and then passes on the cost to tenants along with rent. Since tenants are not direct customers of the utility, they are usually ineligible for customer programs such as bill assistance and energy efficiency resources, which worsens their affordability challenges.
• Construction and structure of mobile homes. Mobile homes absorb heat faster compared to other types of housing. They are typically less insulated and airtight. Mesa, for example, is known for having a large population of mobile homes, many of which are grouped in condensed clusters. These clusters, according to KER, create what’s referred to as a micro-climate, a localized area of higher temperature. The more concentrated the mobile homes, the more heat they retain and radiate.
• Dated mobile homes and equipment: Two-thirds of mobile homes in Maricopa County were built before 1990 and require upgrades and new equipment to withstand Arizona summer heat, as noted by KER. As a result, 39% of mobile home residents spend more than 10% of their summer budget on electricity. Some families may use up as much as 30% to 50% percent of their summer budget to cool their mobile home.

Susceptible mobile home populations

In addition to mobile home residents having a greater electricity cost burden than other homeowners, they are also more likely to have lower incomes in comparison to individuals and families living in single-family dwellings. Mobile home occupants bring in 65% less than the median income of single-family households.

Older populations and young children in mobile homes are particularly at risk of heat exposure. When people age, they retain more heat, especially amid high temperatures. When older adults have chronic health conditions, this increases their risk of heat intolerance combined with medications they may take to manage their medical conditions. Similarly, young children heat up more quickly and have less ability to release heat via sweating.

People of all ages with chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and kidney disease are also at higher risk for heat-related illness and death. According to the earlier referenced Maricopa County report, cardiopulmonary disease contributed to the cause of death in 46% of heat-related deaths in 2023.

How people in mobile homes can protect themselves during high summer heat

Considering the significant number of vulnerable mobile home occupants, organizations and partnerships throughout Arizona have united to offer these residents resources for heat relief. For example, Wildfire — a nonprofit addressing poverty in Arizona — recently raised $2 million through its heat relief program, which will go toward replacing about 150 A/C units for households across the state over the next three years.

In addition to unit replacement, Wildfire helps provide utility bill and appliance repair assistance (wildfireaz.org/find-help/energy-assistance). Mobile home residents can also seek utility payment assistance from the federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (des.az.gov/liheap).

Other solutions such as shade sails, window film, awnings and window units can help reduce direct sunlight from penetrating mobile homes, improve ventilation and airflow, and reduce heat transfer.

Immediate crisis heat-relief options

If any person living in a mobile home has one or more of the following symptoms, they could be experiencing dangerous heat-related health problems and should seek medical help immediately:

• Body temperature of 103°F or above
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Nausea

For non-emergencies, mobile home residents can visit cooling centers, respite centers and hydration stations throughout Maricopa County (maricopa.gov/extreme-heat). These resources are available through the end of September. Solari Inc., in partnership with Lyft and APS is also providing free transportation to cooling centers for eligible Arizona residents who call 2-1-1 Arizona for assistance (211arizona.org).

Wildfire is a nonprofit addressing poverty in Arizona through advocacy and service. More at wildfireaz.org. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.