The Effect of Climate on Free Clinic Attendance by Individuals Experiencing Housing Insecurity

Abstract

Individuals experiencing housing insecurity are a population with inherently transient needs and resources and are particularly vulnerable to climate events such as extreme temperatures and precipitation. Prior studies have examined the relationship between weather and clinic attendance, but few focus specifically on the housing insecure population. This study evaluated the effect of weather events on attendance at Norfolk Street Choir-Street Health - a weekly student-run, walk-in free clinic in the central, downtown city population of Norfolk, Virginia. Clinic attendance and weather data were retrospectively reviewed for 2021-2022. In this period, there were 101 clinic dates and 775 patient visits. Descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance were performed using Statistical Analysis System to analyze attendance against temperature and precipitation, as well as monthly and seasonal trends. The warmer months of August and September had statistically significantly higher attendance rates compared to June, February, and March. There was also a positive correlation between clinic attendance and average temperature on the day before, night before, and day of clinic. This data helps clarify which climate-related factors most significantly impact individuals experiencing housing insecurity, allowing clinics to allocate resources more effectively and proactively address these barriers in the future.