Thermal conditions in residential tents in Knoxville, Tennessee, during hot and cold nights

Unhoused individuals are exposed to hazardous weather due to their lack of shelter and resources. Extreme temperatures are one hazard experienced frequently by those sleeping outside, including those who sleep in tents. Given the potential impacts of hot and cold nights on human health, and the scarcity of research on overnight temperature exposure of the unhoused population, the study aimed to fill gaps and contribute to our understanding of how unhoused individuals are exposed to heat and cold over the course of a day in harsh conditions. This study uses data gathered during two periods in Knoxville, Tennessee, including once in the summer and once in the winter, with 10 study participants in each sample period. Participants who were living in a tent throughout the study period, which was one week long, were invited to participate. iButton Hygrochons were placed inside tents to observe temperature and humidity levels. After the data were collected, they were analyzed to discern patterns of temperature exposure within residential tents. The findings include elevated in-tent temperatures during summer nights, potentially hindering the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat exposure. On the other hand, colder nighttime temperatures during the winter led to dangerous cold exposure, though tents provided some warmth. The findings demonstrated how tents may not aid, and may in fact worsen, exposure to dangerous thermal conditions, highlighting the vulnerability of unhoused individuals using them as overnight shelters.