Impact of Hotels as Non-Congregate Emergency Shelters: An Analysis of Investments in Hotels as Emergency Shelter in King County, WA during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In April 2020, King County, Washington, took an unprecedented step to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. King County Executive Dow Constantine and Public Health Officer Dr. Jeffrey Duchin acted to move more than 700 people out of high-density congregate emergency shelters and into hotel rooms. Since then, over 400 more individuals have also been served. This intervention was part of a regional effort to deintensify the shelter system, aiming to limit the transmission of the virus and protect vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness. Beyond the move to hotels, the County, the City of Seattle, and provider agencies took additional de-intensification measures, including opening new congregate shelters and providing more space to accommodate social distancing. In all locations, providers were supported in meeting Public Health guidance on social distancing, as well as infection prevention and control.