Living in Sarasota's Motels

by Leigh Graham · 2009-03-25 06:00:00 UTC
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I was on the Gulf Coast of Florida last week, visiting my "snowbird" dad and stepmom.  Most days I drove Route 41 in Sarasota, the old Tamiami Trail that connects Tampa and Miami.  There's a collection of eye-catching old motels along the strip, some still in operation, others awaiting redevelopment alongside more and more shuttered sites.

As we passed them, I keep noticing the advertisements for daily and weekly rates.  Unemployment went up in 99.7% of all metro areas in the U.S. Homelessness has risen 35% nationwide since December 2007.  I can't help but wonder: how many newly homeless are living in Sarasota's motels?

In 2005, Sarasota was voted the meanest city for the homeless following its no-camping ordinance.  This winter, local social service organizations fielded increases of more than 100% in requests for help as unemployment approached 10%.  Florida has one of the highest rates of homeless kids in the country.   40% of the homeless in the Sarasota region are families.  The elderly are not far behind.

Vacationing in sunny Florida amidst retirees and strip malls and mini-golf and beaches is a far cry from trying to ignore the obvious poverty that surrounds many developing world resorts.  But the plethora of "low weekly rates", "Bank-owned", and "For Lease" signs I saw all over the place tells me that poverty is just as aplenty here at home.

(Photos by Steven T. Moga)

Leigh Graham
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