Researchers Recommended Code Red Policy in Salt Lake

A new University of Utah study identifies severe heat risks for the city's unsheltered population.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Severe Weather

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a lone urban bench casting a long, sharp shadow, representing urban heat and thermal equity. — A University of Utah report recommends a 'Code Red' policy for Salt Lake City to mitigate extreme heat risks for unhoused residents. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government mandate cooling policies for the homeless during extreme heat?

University of Utah researchers have released a report calling for a Code Red policy to protect homeless residents from extreme heat in the Salt Lake Valley. The study follows data collected from monitors tracking temperatures surpassing 102.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why it matters

The report highlights that a lack of public infrastructure like shade and water creates critical health risks for unhoused individuals. It frames thermal equity as an urgent matter of both governance and physical safety.

Researchers tracked temperatures exceeding 91 and 102.9 degrees Fahrenheit during a six-day monitoring period. Findings included that 73% of businesses surveyed currently impose no set time limits on customers.

The players

University of Utah

This is a public research university located in Salt Lake City that frequently produces studies on local social and environmental issues.

The details

The study utilized GPS-enabled smartphones and backpack-mounted monitors to track the experiences of 24 unhoused participants. Additionally, interviews with 30 business owners revealed that while 60% maintain personal engagement guidelines, most lack formal policy.

In 2025, the state legislature defeated a bill to expand shelter capacity by 35%.
University of Utah researchers released their report in October 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

The study highlights a departure from past legislative inaction on heat-related infrastructure in Utah. It marks a push to update previous failures to enact statewide shelter capacity expansions through a new Code Red policy framework.

Residents can monitor local heat advisories and support cooling center initiatives for vulnerable populations in the Salt Lake Valley. Awareness of business policies regarding entry can also help community members identify safe environments for those needing temporary respite.

The takeaway

Advocates argue that cooling access is a vital infrastructure necessity rather than a voluntary business service. Implementing a formal Code Red policy could standardize safety protocols for vulnerable residents during high-heat events.