Families living in extended-stay hotels are part of our community, but they are often missing from the numbers that shape funding, planning, and services.
Traditional homelessness counts focus on shelters and unsheltered locations, which means many families paying week to week in hotels can remain invisible in the data, even while living without stable housing.
That is why SPARC led the first large-scale, countywide assessment of families living in extended-stay hotels in DeKalb County, Everyone Counts in DeKalb, In partnership with DeKalb County and Georgia State University.
What the study did
This effort covered 50 hotels and 3,546 doors, and included 231 surveys of families living with at least one child under 18.
The assessment estimates 714 families living in extended-stay hotels in DeKalb County, including 1,635 children under 18.
Coverage of the presentation also cited 4,600+ people living in hotels countywide.
Why families get trapped in hotels
Extended-stay hotels can feel like a quick short time solution, no security deposit, no application fees up front, no landlord screening… however the long term effect is huge.
The study found families spent an average of 77% of monthly income on hotel rent, which is well beyond the federal affordability thresholds used across housing policy.
Room rates in the report translate to roughly $1,900/month at an average weekly rate, or $2,661/month at an average daily rate, before additional fees and fines some families reported.
When a household is spending that much just to keep a roof overhead, there is almost nothing left to save for deposits, move-in costs, transportation, childcare, food, or medical needs.
It is NOT about "bad choices"
The report is clear, families are pushed into hotels by economic shocks and a housing market that blocks re-entry.
Common triggers include eviction and rent increases, plus job loss and family disruption.
And even when families are working, upfront move-in costs (often $2,000–$3,000) and screening barriers can keep stable housing out of reach.
What hotel living does to children
Crowded, single-room living can mean poor sleep, limited privacy, no space for homework, and chronic stress.
This matters because prolonged adversity without stable protective supports can trigger “toxic stress,” which research links to disruption in healthy development.
Reporting on extended-stay hotel living also describes frequent challenges like sleep problems, food insecurity when rooms lack kitchens, and unsafe conditions.
What should we do about it?
The recommendations shown by the research focus on practical steps DeKalb can take to reduce long hotel stays and speed up exits to permanent housing, including:
- Recognizing extended-stay hotels as a housing instability category in local strategy and budgeting.
- Investing in housing navigation plus landlord partnerships, so families are not just “placed,” they stay housed.
- Creating a cross-sector task force to coordinate housing, health, education, and human services responses.
- dopting a single-parent family housing strategy that reflects caregiving realities and removes barriers.
How SPARC helps right now
SPARC’s Motel-to-Home program supports families moving from motels into stable housing through outreach, move-in assistance, and aftercare support.
If you are a family who needs support, or a landlord, funder, or community partner who wants to be part of the solution, we want to hear from you.
