February 12, 2026
We're excited to share a recent paper published in the International Journal on Homelessness (IJOH) by our very own Associate Professor Mike Hooper. Its implications for health equity, accessibility, and climate change make it an important read.
The paper:
Homelessness and Insect-Borne Illness Risks:
A Study of the Unsheltered Homeless Population in Cambridge, Massachusetts
by Michael Hooper
Hooper's paper examines how people experiencing homelessness and who are unsheltered manage the risks posed by insect-borne illnesses. While unsheltered people interviewed by the study largely have awareness of insect-borne illness risks and take a variety of steps to manage their exposure, in the absence of regular access to insect repellent, alternative approaches to managing risk may vary in effectiveness and safety. The paper's insights also demonstrate how some standard health advice is inapplicable to unsheltered people. The results provide insights for city officials, advocates for the unsheltered, and planners as they try to protect highly vulnerable groups in the face of increasing climate-driven risk from insect-borne illnesses.
As Hooper concludes:
"More broadly, the results argue for greater inclusion of the unsheltered in decision-making about how to manage the growing threat posed by insect-borne illnesses. Their experiences and knowledge will be vital for improving the effectiveness of solutions and for ensuring that this vulnerable group is not put at even greater risk."
About Associate Professor Mike Hooper
Michael Hooper's research focuses on urban planning, policy and politics, with particular interest in three themes related to urban spatial transformation: displacement, disasters and densification. Across these topics he has a strong cross-cutting interest in public participation, governance, and organisations.