Eviction Protections Lacking for Those Living in Hotels and Motels

Indiana’s temporary halt on evictions and foreclosures remains in place until at least early May, but the order has not protected people living in transitional housing like extended stay hotels. Brandon Beeler, director of Indiana Legal Services’ Housing Law Center, has been helping clients in situations like this and said so far, he’s been able to connect them with community resources for assistance paying bills.

Beeler argued that the governor’s stay-at-home order does classify hotels and motels as “homes” or “residences,” leaving open a possible legal argument that people should not be kicked out during the pandemic.

“Many of them were folks who were just getting on their feet and staying at the hotels temporarily to move onto more stable housing, and unfortunately, they got caught in the middle of this pandemic,” Beeler said.