From the streets to a hotel: a qualitative study of the experiences of homeless persons in the pandemic era

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the wake of COVID-19, programs for housing homeless individuals in hotels have emerged in the U.S., though research has yielded little information about the impact of these programs on participants expressed in their own words. In this qualitative study conducted in a major northeastern city, 13 previously street homeless individuals recount their experiences of hotel housing during the pandemic. Participants were recruited from an advocacy-initiated collaborative that operated with a housing first approach, providing private rooms without requirements or intrusive oversight typically found in shelter environments. Benefits of hotel housing reported include improvements in physical health, sleep, personal hygiene, privacy, safety, nutrition, and overall well-being. Inductive coding by consensus and thematic development yielded three themes. Participants described hotel living as (1) a platform for stability; (2) protection from COVID and other hazards; and (3) freeing mental space for future planning. As research shows hotel programs’ success, an unprecedented opportunity has arisen from the pandemic to end homelessness for many. Given current federal budget increases, it is recommended that hotels become part of a larger effort to reduce shelter populations and increase access to independent housing.