Hot and Cold NYC

Hot and Cold NYC Sharing stories of resilience in New York City. Follow us on instagram and tiktok

11/10/2025

As temperatures continue to drop and we head into winter, we must keep in mind the impact this has on unhoused communities here in NYC. Those who rely on the shelter system face high levels of energy insecurity, or the inability to reliably access or afford heating, cooling, or electricity, and rarely ever have all their basic needs met at once. Nearly 28% of New Yorkers experience 3 or more indicators of energy insecurity. This is exacerbated for those living in shelters through unsafe living conditions, disrupted sleep schedules, greater illness risk, and stress. 🏠❄️

We must continue to spread awareness and support policies and programs that guarantee safe, warm, well lit homes for everyone, including those who rely on the shelter system or live in the streets. 🗣️🔈

Access to energy should not be a luxury, it’s a human right. ⚡️♥️

Check out the following NYC-based resources that address these issues:
Coalition for the Homeless: https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/
Breaking Ground: https://www.breakingground.org/



09/26/2025

PART 2 | Ericka’s Story: Reflecting on Ericka’s experiences, when we talk about climate change, we must remember it’s not JUST an environmental crisis, it’s a public health emergency.🚨

Addressing rising temperatures must go hand in hand with addressing and reducing health inequities. This should mean investing in better cooling infrastructure, expanding healthcare access, and protecting affordable housing.🌎🏠

Climate justice and health justice are interconnected forces. It’s time we hold our politicians and local leaders accountable and demand they treat climate and health disparities as the interconnected crises they are. 📣🗣️

Columbia Public Health Hot and Cold NYC

Edit: Please note that the participant’s name has been changed.

09/25/2025

PART 1 | Ericka’s Story: Continuing on our interview highlight series for Climate Week, we share a portion of an interview with Ericka, a mother and community leader concerned for the health of her daughter, who has epilepsy and autism, amidst rising temperatures.🌡️

After experiencing one of the hottest NYC summers in recent history, this has become a growing concern for many, but especially for communities of color, low-income communities, elderly people, and people with chronic health conditions. 🏥

Global warming has posed greater health risks for many, but the solutions to prevent health flare-ups are too costly and inaccessible for too many.
Stay tuned for part 2.

Columbia Public Health Hot and Cold NYC

Edit: Please note that the participant’s name has been changed.

09/23/2025

September 21st-28th is Climate Week NYC, an annual charity initiative striving to promote climate action. As temperatures continue to rise globally, economic barriers to navigating these burdens have become more apparent than ever, particularly for working class and immigrant New Yorkers. 🌡️☀️

We spoke to New Yorkers in hopes to highlight their critical yet overlooked experiences navigating rising temperatures and energy insecurity. Establishing more robust and equitable utility services and safety nets, such as energy bill assistance programs, could help reduce this burden for many. 🛠️💵

Tackling the complexities of the climate crisis should start with addressing the problems we face right at home. 🗣️⚡️



09/10/2025

Pregnant women and new mothers are vulnerable to energy insecurity, especially when high utility bills, broken heating/cooling systems, or unsafe housing conditions make it hard to keep their families safe and comfortable.

Energy insecurity can worsen pregnancy risks, from dehydration in the summer to respiratory issues in the winter. For many, the stress of choosing between rent, food, and utilities takes a heavy toll on both physical and mental health.

💡 How to Support:
- Keep homes safe with working heating/cooling systems
- Share fans, heaters, or air purifiers with families in need
- Advocate for affordable housing and utility protections
- Check in on pregnant women and families with infants, especially during extreme weather

📌 Resources for Assistance:
- 211 Helpline – Connect to local energy assistance, housing, and family support services (211.org)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – Utility bill relief and emergency energy support (benefits.gov/LIHEAP)
- WIC Program – Nutrition and wellness support for women, infants, and children (fns.usda.gov/wic)
- Local Health Departments – Help with maternal-child health resources and home environment concerns
- Community Action Agencies – Often provide direct utility assistance and weatherization programs

Energy is a necessity, not a luxury. 🔌 Let’s make sure no expecting mother has to choose between comfort and survival.



#311

09/04/2025

Women, especially those who are pregnant, and children are more vulnerable to extreme summer heat due to higher risks of dehydration, heat stress, and underlying health conditions. 🌡️ Prolonged exposure can quickly lead to heat exhaustion, with warning signs like dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, fatigue, headache, and muscle cramps.

💧 How to Support:
- Keep cool with shaded or air-conditioned spaces
- Drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty
- Dress in lightweight, breathable clothing
- Check in on pregnant women, children, and other high-risk loved ones

📌 Resources for Assistance:
- 311 – Call for city services like cooling center locations and heat safety updates (in many U.S. cities)
- 211 Helpline – Find local cooling centers and support services (211.org)
- Local Health Departments – Offer heat safety info, WIC program support, and maternal-child health resources
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program – Nutrition, hydration, and wellness assistance (fns.usda.gov/wic)
- American Red Cross Cooling Centers – Air-conditioned spaces during extreme heat (redcross.org)

Know the signs. Act fast. Save lives.



#311

August is LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) Action Month. As the month comes to a close, keep in mind a...
08/28/2025

August is LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) Action Month. As the month comes to a close, keep in mind all the ways Americans are continually affected by energy insecurity and how LIHEAP has relieved this burden for many. We must continue to advocate for LIHEAP and similar programs aiming to reduce energy insecurity for all. These infographics are courtesy of the NEUAC (National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition). To learn more from them and to access LIHEAP resources: linktr.ee/theNEUAC

💡 How to apply:
Visit your state LIHEAP office website or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline at 1-866-674-6327.
Find your local contact here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap

⚠️ Why it matters now: Proposed federal budget cuts could slash LIHEAP funding, putting vulnerable households at risk of losing essential energy support during extreme heat and cold.

📢 Defend LIHEAP:
Contact your representatives: https://www.congress.gov/members
Join advocacy efforts: National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association – https://neada.org
Resources for LIHEAP Advocates: https://neuac.org/liheap-action-toolkit/
Share your story about how LIHEAP helps you or your community.

Energy is not a luxury, it’s a basic human need. Let’s keep LIHEAP strong! 💪🏽



#311

📣 Join us this Tuesday at the 2025 NEUAC Annual Conference in Charolette, North Carolina where Dr. Diana Hernández, a pi...
05/29/2025

📣 Join us this Tuesday at the 2025 NEUAC Annual Conference in Charolette, North Carolina where Dr. Diana Hernández, a pioneering researcher of energy equity, housing, and health, will be leading a plenary and discussing her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. Book signings will be available! ✍️

Make sure to order your copy of Powerless with .bookshop 📚

Belmont Bookshop is a local and independent bookstore with quality books, audiobooks, and events in Belmont, North Carolina, visit belmontbookshop.com to support!

Register for the NEUAC Annual Conference at neuac.org!

📣 Join the movement! Powerless: The People's Struggle for Energy Insecurity is hitting the road! 🔌 Discover the untold s...
05/12/2025

📣 Join the movement! Powerless: The People's Struggle for Energy Insecurity is hitting the road! 🔌 Discover the untold stories of energy insecurity and everyday acts of resilience, resistance, and the fight for energy equity and opportunity with Dr. Diana Hernández in a city near you! Stay tuned for future dates and virtual hostings!

For bookings email [email protected]

Energy insecurity, the inability to adequately meet basic household energy needs, affects millions of U.S. households an...
05/07/2025

Energy insecurity, the inability to adequately meet basic household energy needs, affects millions of U.S. households and is deeply connected to housing quality, income inequality, and racial and health disparities (Hernandez, 2013, 2016, 2024). This comprehensive toolkit explores the drivers and impacts of energy insecurity and provides guidance on using policy, partnerships, and community-centered strategies to address it. It highlights the power of qualitative data (like interviews and focus groups) and quantitative tools (like surveys and mapping) in identifying inequities and shaping solutions.

🔗 Learn more and access the full APHA toolkit at https://lnk.bio/hotandcold_nyc or scan the QR code!

Powerless tells the story of energy insecurity in America. It is an in-depth diagnosis and treatment plan for this hidde...
03/28/2025

Powerless tells the story of energy insecurity in America. It is an in-depth diagnosis and treatment plan for this hidden epidemic that impacts 10% of the American population, with another 40% at risk of being unable to meet household energy needs. Featuring compelling narratives and statistics from two national surveys, this book lays the foundation for deeper understanding of power struggles plaguing millions of households around the U.S.

Check it out! 🔌💥

🔗 Now available for pre-order: https://www.russellsage.org/publications/powerless
Discount code: POWERLESS



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