Homeless Living In Storage Units

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-03-28 20:17:00 UTC
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What comes with a lock, shelter from the elements, a low monthly rent, and enough space for personal belongings?

A rental storage unit, of course.

With record numbers of Americans out of work and unable to afford housing, people must be resourceful to keep a roof over their head. Of course, a storage unit is not ideal. But it beats the dangers of the street, the rules of shelters, and the stigma of tent cities for people who are newly homeless.

This is not a new phenomena. The Washington Post published a story several years ago that highlighted this issue in Maryland:

"Sometimes they can fix them up really nice," said Lawrence, who works at Economy Storage in Waldorf. They might add insulation, carpet on the floor, a bed, a rack for their clothes, a television, a hot plate, maybe even a little grill out back. "It's just like a little efficiency, but without running water."

But as the economy has worsened, so has the incidence of people living in storage units, reported KHON in Hawaii. See the report below.

Could we be on to something here? Might storage units-turned-SROs be the answer to tent cities and overcrowded shelters?

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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