A disproportionate number of urban poor elderly people live in what has been characterized as the nation's least desirable housing stock – single room occupancy (SRO) hotels. A study was conducted in SROs in a Chicago neighborhood, and data were collected on the experiences of 53 elderly tenants. The findings suggest that the hotel environment exacerbated isolation for the elderly tenants and indicate that they were in desperate need of social services. Social workers are called on to bring health and human services directly to SRO hotels.
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