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Title: Trapped in Extended Stay: A Generational Struggle for Stable Housing in Clayton County
This article is part of The Extended Stay Trap, a series by Atlanta Civic Circle exploring the systemic barriers that keep families in Clayton County—and across Georgia—stuck in extended-stay motels instead of permanent housing.
Denise Parker, 26, has spent most of her life trying to escape the cycle of poverty and instability that defined her childhood. After growing up in rundown motels across Clayton County, she moved into her own apartment at 17 and vowed to give her daughter, now six, a better life.
But that stability unraveled when Parker lost her job as a technical support representative for Apple following a surgery. Although she worked from home, her employer refused to approve her two-week recovery period and fired her. Without income, she couldn’t keep up with rent and was evicted.
Now, Parker finds herself back in the same extended-stay hotels she once escaped—places plagued by gun violence, drug activity, and sex trafficking. She’s raising her daughter in an environment she fought so hard to avoid.
A Cycle Passed Down
Parker’s story mirrors those of her mother and grandmother, who have also spent years cycling between hotels and apartments. Her mother, Tanisha Moreno, 44, moved to Georgia from California at 15 to live with her mother, Elizabeth Miller, 62, and five siblings—all crammed into an extended-stay motel. Moreno had her first child at 16 and briefly secured an apartment, but financial instability forced her back into shared housing with her mother and stepfather.
After the death of Miller’s husband in 2017, the family’s situation worsened. Miller had to close her home catering business and now survives on a $251 monthly pension and food stamps, occasionally panhandling to make ends meet. That’s not enough to afford an apartment.
Moreno, raising six of her nine children, was recently evicted from the dangerous Tara Woods Apartments in Jonesboro after falling behind on rent. Her $10-an-hour job at an extended-stay hotel couldn’t cover the $1,516 monthly rent. She and her children moved in with Miller and two grandsons at her daughter Keyana’s apartment—three families under one roof. But with an eviction looming for Keyana, they may soon be homeless again.
Meanwhile, Parker and her daughter split time at her aunt’s house. But due to her aunt’s custody battle, DFACS (Division of Family and Children Services) frequently inspects the home. When inspections are scheduled, Parker and her daughter must leave—often to a hotel, if they can afford the $80–$100 nightly rate. If not, they risk sleeping on the street.
The Extended-Stay Trap
Extended-stay motels offer a temporary solution for families who can’t afford the upfront costs of renting an apartment—typically first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit—or who have poor credit or eviction histories. Unlike apartments, these motels don’t require background checks or proof of income.
But the convenience comes at a steep cost. Miller pays $420 a week for a motel room—$1,680 a month—far more than the average $1,260 rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Clayton County. And the high cost makes it nearly impossible to save for a permanent home.
Moreno’s income of $1,730 per month from her full-time job qualifies her only for a studio or one-bedroom apartment priced between $575 and $690—units that are nearly nonexistent in metro Atlanta.
No Place for Children
Many single mothers turn to extended-stay hotels as a last resort, hoping it’s temporary. But the conditions are far from ideal for raising children. The rooms are cramped, and outdoor play is often unsafe or prohibited.
Miller tries to keep her grandsons entertained with card games or sports, while Moreno’s children pass time on their phones. But even the safer hotels restrict children from playing outside. The cheaper ones allow it—but are often rife with crime.
Parker worries constantly about safety. “It’s scary to be at a hotel with just me and my daughter and no protection,” she said. “I’m scared to go to sleep at night, scared someone might kick in the door.”
Sue Sullivan, a realtor and volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul Georgia’s motel-to-home program, said the lack of regulation allows hotel owners to neglect maintenance and safety. “The only people who want to live in these hotels are the drug dealers and sex traffickers,” she said. “And when residents complain, they fear being kicked out.”
Breaking the Cycle
All three women dream of a safe, stable home. Miller wants a one-bedroom with a kitchen to restart her catering business. Moreno longs for a place she can call her own. Parker just wants a secure space for her daughter—somewhere they don’t have to live in fear.
Thousands of working families in Clayton County face the same struggle. With affordable housing scarce, childcare costs consuming much of their income, and low-wage jobs offering little upward mobility, many are stuck in extended-stay motels despite working full-time.
But solutions exist. Advocates point to better-paying jobs, affordable childcare, financial literacy programs, rental assistance, and eviction prevention as key to helping families escape the extended-stay trap.
Until then, families like Parker’s, Moreno’s, and Miller’s remain caught in a cycle that spans generations—one that’s hard to break without systemic change.
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Explore more stories in The Extended Stay Trap series at Atlanta Civic Circle.
Source: atlantaciviccircle.org