Examining Municipal Heat Problem Framings and Social Vulnerability: Implications for Social Work

Abstract Urban heat islands (UHIs) and extreme heat events (EHEs) disproportionately affect socially vulnerable urban populations. This study examines how 50 populous U.S. cities frame heat problems in relation to social vulnerability, informing social work’s role in addressing urban heat disparities. The authors analyzed secondary data from Turner et al.’s research (a study that coded municipal planning documents for heat problems), the 2015–2019 American Community Survey, and the 2020 U.S. Census, looking for associations between UHI/EHE framings and four selected city-level social vulnerability indicators (i.e., rates of poverty, limited English proficiency, people of color [POC], and mobile home residency) while controlling for urban density. Negative binomial regression results reveal a positive association between UHI framings and city poverty rates and a small but significant negative association between UHI framings and POC rates. EHE framings exhibit a significant negative association with mobile home residency rates. These findings suggest uneven patterns in how cities conceptualize heat events relative to their social vulnerability profiles, highlighting the critical need to incorporate social vulnerability considerations into urban heat management strategies, promoting more equitable mitigation and adaptation efforts. The study emphasizes social work’s potential contributions through interdisciplinary collaboration, municipal policy advocacy, and community engagement. By integrating vulnerable groups’ perspectives into urban heat planning and response initiatives, social work can meaningfully enhance urban resilience and environmental justice.