Hotels as Noncongregate Emergency Shelters: An Analysis of Investments in Hotels as Emergency Shelter in King County, Washington During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study analyzes the COVID-19 homelessness response in King County, Washington, in which people were moved out of high-density emergency shelters into hotel rooms. This intervention was part of a regional effort to de-intensify the shelter system and limit the transmission of the virus to protect vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to describe the experiences of and outcomes on individuals who were moved from shelters to noncongregate hotel settings. The study highlights a new approach to shelter delivery that not only responded to the public health imperatives of COVID-19, but also indicated positive health and social outcomes compared to traditional congregate settings. The findings establish an evidence base to help inform future strategic responses to homelessness as well as to contribute to the broader policy conversations on our nation’s response to homelessness.

Keywords:

• Homelessness
• shelter
• COVID-19
• policy
• evaluation

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a University of Washington Population Health Initiative COVID-19 Economic Recovery Research Grant, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Urban@UW.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 A CoC covers a specific geography and manages and coordinates housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

2 A true counterfactual would be those who remained in standard, congregate shelter settings. Due to public health directives, the pre-pandemic congregate settings no longer existed for comparative purposes.

3 In the initial public health response period from March to July 2020, testing for COVID-19 was targeted to facilities in response to either a confirmed COVID-19 case or COVID-like illness based on symptoms. The goals around this testing strategy were to rapidly detect COVID-19 cases, isolate those who needed it, and support people and facilities to help contain outbreaks. In the time since this period, Public Health has had a proactive testing strategy for surveillance and prevention purposes in settings where no known cases of COVID-19 or COVID-like illness are present.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gregg Colburn

Gregg Colburn, University of Washington.

Rachel Fyall

Rachel Fyall, University of Washington.

Christina McHugh

Christina McHugh, King County.

Pear Moraras

Pear Moraras, Urban Institute.

Victoria Ewing

Victoria Ewing, King County.

Samantha Thompson

Samantha Thompson, University of Washington.

Taquesha Dean

Taquesha Dean, University of Washington.

Sarah Argodale

Sarah Argodale, Centre for Homelessness Impact.