DeKalb's Hidden Housing Crisis: Families Living in Extended Stay Hotels

A new Georgia State University study is putting numbers behind a housing problem that is easy to overlook.

4,664 people are living in extended stay hotels across DeKalb County, including 1,635 children.

Researchers surveyed 42 hotels and identified 2,004 households using hotels as their primary residence. Most aren't households without income. 78% have at least one working adult, and nearly one in four have someone working multiple jobs.

Paying More for Less

The average household surveyed is paying $1,852 per month for an extended stay hotel. Families are spending about 77 percent of their income on hotel costs.

So why not rent an apartment?

For many families, the problem is getting through the door. Income requirements, security deposits, low credit scores and previous evictions are among the barriers keeping families from moving into permanent housing. That creates an expensive trap. A household may be able to pay $1,800 every month for a hotel but still be unable to qualify for an apartment that costs less.

The Families We Don't Count

Families living long term in extended stay hotels often aren't included in federal homelessness counts. That means thousands of people experiencing serious housing instability can be overlooked when communities determine the size of their homeless populations and where resources are needed.

Breaking Down the Barriers

This is where organizations like Jo-Anne's House can be part of the solution. Our work helps people address credit and financial barriers that stand between them and stable housing. The goal is to identify the problem that is keeping a household from qualifying for housing and help them work through it.

Why This Matters

This report challenges the idea that housing instability always means someone has no income or nowhere indoors to sleep. Some families are working, paying thousands of dollars to stay in an extended stays because they cannot qualify for traditional housing.

If families can afford the monthly rent but cannot get past the requirements to move in, then building affordable housing is only part of the solution. We also have to address the barriers keeping people from accessing it.

Sources: Atlanta Journal Constitution, WSB TV