ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Montgomery County is paying to house homeless families at motels.
The head of the county's Health and Human Services Department, Uma Ahluwalia, said the worsening economy has made it harder for the county to find permanent housing for the growing number of homeless people. She said the number of people needing shelter has also grown.
The county is paying $5,720 per day to house 52 families at motels, Ahluwalia said, and will likely run out of money to pay for motel rooms in April.
According to a Washington Examiner report, last year there were between 35 and 45 homeless families in motels at any given time, but officials set aside less money for motels this year because they hoped the permanent housing program would decrease demand.
