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Extended-Stay Hotels: A Temporary Solution with Long-Term Health Consequences for Children

Oct 21, 2024

2 min read

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Extended-stay hotels are increasingly becoming a last-resort housing option for low-income families facing homelessness. While they offer immediate shelter, these hotels often come with significant health and emotional challenges for children. In Cobb County, where extended-stay living is common, families are grappling with more than just housing instability—they’re dealing with serious physical and mental health risks.


Children in these environments often face trauma. As seen in many schools in the area, students from extended-stay hotels face issues such as exposure to violence, sleep deprivation, and food insecurity due to inadequate kitchen facilities. Many of these children struggle with aggression, anxiety, and difficulty focusing in class. As one advocate put it, “Social trauma is the biggest challenge when students first arrive.”


The numbers paint a concerning picture in Cobb County. Over 1,700 children in the Cobb County School District are homeless, and about 600 of them are living in extended-stay hotels. With rising rents, frequent evictions, and a shortage of affordable housing, more families are turning to these hotels as their only option.


The consequences of this temporary solution, however, are alarming. Health inspections of extended-stay hotels in the Atlanta metro area have revealed unsafe living conditions, such as poor ventilation, mold, and insect infestations. These conditions often lead to health problems for children, including developmental delays, emotional trauma, and frequent emergency room visits. Gary Kirkilas, a pediatrician who works with children experiencing homelessness, reports that "about 75% of children with unstable housing have at least one developmental delay."


In Cobb County, advocates are calling for more investment in affordable housing and better renter protections. Sarah Saadian of the National Low Income Housing Coalition emphasizes the need for systemic solutions, stating, "The only way that we can really address that shortage is if there are significant federal resources at scale. Build more housing and bridge the gap between rents and wages."


At Family Promise Cobb, we understand that homelessness in all its forms, including extended-stay living, is harmful to families—especially children. That’s why we’re committed to working toward solutions that go beyond temporary fixes and provide families with the stability they need to thrive.



Sources: Miller, Andy, and Renuka Rayasam. “Extended-Stay Hotels Offer Relief from Homelessness, but Can Lead to Health Problems for Kids.” KFF Health News, October 15, 2024.

Oct 21, 2024

2 min read

0

18

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