Are Motels the Next Subsidized Housing?

Published July 17, 2009 @ 03:02PM PT

A single room with two double beds at Value Place Motel.

That's what Jerry Bailor's family calls home. And they're not alone. Cheap motels and hotels across the country are becoming de facto shelter for families affected by the recession. At $799 per month, it's an affordable alternative to shelter and safer than the streets. In some communities, homeless service providers are footing the bill for families in motel rooms because they are the only housing option available.

Besides, it's not like they're filled with travelers these days.

The IndyStar shed light on the stories of people living in Value Place this story earlier this month. While the awareness is good, I don't think the story even touched on the reality of the difficulties this living situation presents for families:

The adults sleep on one bed and the children on the other. The room has no closets, so they keep their clothes and belongings in 13 suitcases and boxes.

This isn't breaking news. In fact, it's kind of a stale story. Many papers have been reporting on this "alternative" approach to shelter for months.

But time should not desensitize any of us to the severity of this situation.

Photo from the IndyStar.com

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Comments (2)

$799 is really inexpensive, in California, Nevada, and Oregon, a motel 6 room is more than $1,200 a month, more in the summer, less in winter, no monthly or weekly rates, and the weekly motels can be located in high crime areas plus dirty, there is no place to cook, no fridge to keep food fresh, plus there may or may not be internet or local phone calls allowed...

Posted by CeliaSue Hecht on 07/19/2009 @ 06:35PM PT
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Reading articles like this is so frustrating.

For the amount of money being spent on these "cheap" motel rooms, families/individuals could be placed in rentals. In my town, that "cheap" motel would cost over $1000/month; however, there is a building full of empty condos down the street that are listed in the paper for $800/month. Why not expand the section 8 program and allow people the dignity of at least renting their own "home"?

Posted by Jody Mack on 07/20/2009 @ 08:25AM PT
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Author

Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.