Turning to Alternative Housing

Some people have relocated to an unusual housing alternative--- a hotel. Across the country hotels have seen a drop in business, but here in the ArkLaTex business is booming. Rick Case has lived in the Rodeway Inn and Suites for more than five months. Management says for the past eight months more than125 rooms have been occupied by people like Case. Sometimes with families but sometimes with roomates. "Quite a few of the men double up because they can cut down their cost down in half and they can send more money home to their families" says the President of Southern Host Hospitality Jeff Rogers. Workers come to Shreveport-Bossier to earn a living because this was the only job they could find. Sometimes working more than 100 hours a week. "They come in here leaving their families at home, some bring their families. And they move into the hotels. They go to work. They dont know if theyre going to be here one month, three months or three years" says Rogers. So theyve picked a place where they can book an extended stay and not have to worry about the basics. "You know here you can pay one flat rate per week. You dont have the furniture that you have to get. You dont have the cable. You dont have the telephone" says Rogers. Rogers planned on tearing down the Rodeway Inn and Suites and building a Holiday Inn in its place. His his plans changed when he realized how much the hotel was needed.