The effect of extreme temperatures on evictions

Abstract

Using data on evictions in the United States, we estimate the relationship between temperature and eviction filings. We find that extreme heat days result in a statistically significant increase in filings, while extreme cold days do not have the same relationship. To explain these findings, we show that residential energy expenditures are more sensitive to extreme heat than extreme cold, and that energy assistance programs in the United States prioritize funding for heating rather than cooling. These findings suggest that relative to today, future climate change scenarios with more hot days and fewer cold days will increase eviction filings without other policy or private adaptation.