"Extreme Heat Exposes Vulnerability of Impoverished Americans Without AC"

As record-breaking heat waves sweep across the United States, the poorest Americans, particularly those in marginalized communities, are suffering the most without access to air conditioning, which has become a matter of survival. Many low-income households cannot afford air conditioning units or the high costs of installation, leaving them vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and death. While some federal funding has been allocated to subsidize utility costs and cooling systems, it often only reaches a fraction of the most vulnerable families. The disparity in temperatures between lower-income neighborhoods and wealthier areas exacerbates the consequences, with people of color disproportionately affected.