Examining the Relationships Between Urban Heat Island Effect and the Spatial and Racial Dimensions of Inequality

Abstract

This research addresses the relationship between the spatial and racial dimensions of housing inequality in New York City and Washington, D.C. This research aims to demonstrate the influence of historical policies on present day public housing and the impacts of continuously rising temperatures resulting from climate change on residents. To do so, this work relies on spatial mapping to examine the overlaps of three indicator variables to determine the relationship between housing and racial-spatial inequality , locations of public housing, HVI/HSI scores, and count of Black or African American residents per census tract, . Hot spot analysis was conducted to identify areas of high concentration for each variable and their overlapping regions.. Both Washington, D.C., and New York City demonstrated strong correlations between high heat vulnerability, racial disparities, and public housing locations, emphasizing the influence of historical urban policies on cities today. These findings highlight the need for all three variables to be used in housing and heat inequality research. Additionally, this research shows that public housing data is a good source for understanding the racial and spatial patterns of inequalities related to urban heat. Future work should focus on expanding the research to other cities burdened by heat, housing, and racial inequalities in other of U.S. cities to inform climate policy.Master of Urban and Regional PlanningThis research explores the connection between housing, race, and heat inequality in New York City and Washington, D.C. Due to past policies and systemic inequalities, many Black communities in these cities live in public housing. Uurban areas with public housing are typically more vulnerable to rising temperatures, making heat exposure major challenge for its predominantly Black residents. To better understand these relationships, this study maps where public housing is located, how heat affects different neighborhoods, and where Black residents are most concentrated. By identifying areas where these variables overlap, the research highlights how historical housing decisions continue to impact communities today and how racial, spatial and heat inequalities are interconnected. In both cities, neighborhoods with higher numbers of public housing and Black residents also experience greater heat risk, emphasizing how racial and environmental inequality are connected. This work shows that public housing data is a useful tool for studying inequality, particularly in relation to climate and racial disparities. Future research should expand this approach to other cities facing similar challenges. By doing so, researchers can identify broader patterns and help shape better policies to address housing, racial, and environmental justice on multiple scales