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'Hidden Homeless' Turn to Motels

Recession forces middle-income families into uncomfortable new quarters
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 11, 2009 9:48 AM CDT
'Hidden Homeless' Turn to Motels
People forced by foreclosures to leave their homes often share living quarters if possible; if not, many turn to motels, where they become the "hidden homeless."   (©?Florian)

As the economy leaves people without the income they need to afford a mortgage or monthly rent, more and more families find themselves checking into motels for indefinite stays. While they may be a step above homeless shelters, motels bring with them a unique set of problems as long-term stopgaps, the New York Times reports.

Families find themselves crammed into a single room, forcing kids to share beds and leaving no space for storage or many personal possessions. Dinner probably comes from a can, heated on a hot plate. And monthly rents can still be high enough to make it tough for families to save up enough for a security deposit on a real rental. (More motel stories.)

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