Facing Homelessness
In Georgia, approximately one-tenth of Dunaire Elementary’s student population are living in extended-stay hotels. Schools like theirs, situated just east of Atlanta, are witnessing this phenomenon increase more and more. A result of American’s ongoing crisis with affordable housing, students grapple with everything from dangerous living conditions to food insecurity, because some hotel rooms lack kitchen facilities.
Students’ Consequences and Schools Response
The principal, Sean Deas, speaks of children who have experienced violence at these hotels, display symptoms of anxiety or aggression from crowded living conditions, and struggle with hunger. This forced Deas to create a schoolwide program to help these students, including school counselors, a food pantry, and specific protocols for sleepy students. He believes supporting the whole family is crucial, beyond mere academics.
Hard Times in Hotel Living
Extended-stay hotels are frequently a last resort for low-income families trying to find housing. Statistics from the Department of Education highlight that over 100,000 students lived in such housing conditions in 2022. Adding insult to injury, many of the 40% of homeless students residing in hotels in Atlanta’s surrounding counties may be underrepresented in official figures.
Meanwhile, the number of families living long-term in hotels is growing due to factors like increased evictions, rising rent costs, and limited access to federal public housing. However, it doesn’t end there. Children who experience homelessness in hotels can also suffer from various physical and mental health problems.
Health Risks and Danger in Hotels
Inspections and studies of these makeshift homes have revealed alarming conditions. From poor ventilation and bug infestations to mold, the living conditions in these hotels are far from adequate. Shockingly, some children witness or experience crime and gun violence as well. Extended-hotel living has become a warning sign of America’s failing affordable housing policy, say – experts.
Long-term Implications and Call for Strategic Housing Plans
The consequences of not addressing these issues could be lifelong, warns Sarah Saadian, of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. She advocates for federal resources and commitments to building more affordable housing and bridging the rent-wage discrepancy.
Evictions and Displacement: The Cycle
In certain circumstances, families forced into hotel living often remain trapped due to the difficulty of finding a landlord who will rent to individuals with evictions on their credit history. These individuals, predominantly low-income women of color with children, or those escaping domestic violence, are left with little choice but to turn to extended-stay hotels, despite their high daily rates and unhealthy living conditions.
The Reality of Extended-Stay Living
Tales abound of families struggling in hotel room settings, with multiple people wedged in a single room. Some children report feeling depressed. Electricity and water access are often limited, and mundane activities like homework become a struggle. Even playing outside can get families evicted, and that’s not the worse of it. Some residents speak of insect infestations and being charged for basic necessities like toilet paper.
Hope Amid the Crisis
Recognizing the severity of the situation, nonprofits and county officials across the nation are finding innovative ideas to help. Some provide funds for transition to apartments. Others, like King County in the Seattle area, have started to purchase hotels to convert them into much-needed affordable housing units.
Towards a Solution
Advocates for more affordable housing and stronger eviction protections note that the federal government has often not lived up to its responsibilities, allowing the housing crisis to reach its current stage. They argue for overcoming barriers like very lenient eviction laws in favor of more balanced landlord-tenant relationships. With a focus on policy change and strategic planning, perhaps a cycle of poverty that has become all too familiar can finally be broken.