Skip to main content

Why Washington foster kids are sleeping in hotels

caption: A state report sounds the alarm over the rising use of hotels to temporarily house foster youth.
Enlarge Icon
A state report sounds the alarm over the rising use of hotels to temporarily house foster youth.

Kim Malcolm talks with foster care advocate Jen Kamel about why there's a significant foster parent shortage in Washington state.

A new report from the Office of the Family and Children's Ombudsman found that hundreds of foster children end up sleeping in hotels, due to a shortage of foster homes.

Kamel is a foster parent, and chief clinical officer for Amara, a foster care organization based in Seattle.

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.

Why you can trust KUOW