'Hidden Homeless' Turn to Motels

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.)