Hotels for Homeless outlines hotel-room shelter model, asks Jack Hopkins for $18,000

Katie Norris, founder and executive director of Hotels for Homeless (Hotels for Hope/H4H), described a shelter model that uses hotel rooms, short-term Airbnbs and a camper to provide emergency shelter, case management and rapid rehousing supports.

Norris said the application text reads "$18,000 will be used for 225 emergency shelter stays for up to 75 people," explaining her math: a single-bed hotel room at about $80 per night produces the 225-night figure. She added that rooms can be double- or family-occupied and that Airbnb and camper placements can reduce per-person costs and offer varying accessibility and privacy features.

"We always have and always will follow the housing first strategy," Norris said, and she walked the committee through other elements of her program including case management, landlord negotiations, transportation for medical and legal appointments, and a Tommy’s Trailers program that moves some clients toward owning mobile homes.

Norris also described extensive referral relationships with Heading Home staff, local healthcare providers and many local nonprofits. Committee members asked clarifying questions about per-person versus per-room budgeting and about partnerships; Norris clarified the application language and said the ask was not a per-person charge but an estimate of shelter nights afforded by the funds.

The committee closed the discussion with thanks; no action was taken during the meeting.