The Daily Struggle of America's 'Motel Kids'

Too poor to rent an apartment but with just enough money for a cheap motel, thousands of American families have become so-called "motel kids" since 2008's recession.

Published

12 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

United States

Places

United States of America, California, Anaheim

Transcript

SCRIPT: UPSOUND Lisna (woman, English, 5 sec) "This is where I live, in a hotel. I'm staying here." Lisna has been living in this hotel room since her divorce six months ago. She shares the tight space with her two kids. There's little room for much here, no privacy and no place to study. SOUNDBITE 1 Marista Wati Santoso (19 yo girl), Lisna's daughter, lives in a motel (English, 9 sec): "My brother is pretty noisy, he can't like stay still. It's hard to concentrate some days, so I stay out late at the library after school." Marista and her brother are so-called "motel kids," children of struggling families, most of whom have lost their homes and can't afford the deposit for an apartment. They can barely make ends meet and live week to week in cheap, cramped quarters like this one, which costs Lisna 39 dollars a night. SOUNDBITE 2 Lisna Wati Santoso (woman), Taxi driver, lives in a motel (English, 9 sec): "I miss the house, really bad, trust me. Because I don't want her to be embarrassed. Yeah, I always cry…" "Motel kids" have been around for years, but their numbers swelled by nearly 40 percent since the recession began in 2008. At this Boys and Girls Club in Anaheim near LA, the director counts at least 100 kids who live in motel rooms -- without a kitchen. SOUNDBITE 3 Michael Baker (man), Director, Anaheim's "Boys and Girls club" (English, 14 sec): "What that mean is that they have to eat out. And they are certainly not eating at wealthy restaurants. They are eating, if they are eating, fast food, which is not the healthiest thing for them to it. And they are not eating as often." That's what chef Bruno Serato set out to change. He runs a top-rated restaurant by day, but spends his evenings here, cooking for the kids. UPSOUND Bruno Serato (man, French, 9 sec): "We're making pasta for the kids. I love pasta! Mamma mia, it's so good! Buonissimo!" [ "On est en train de préparer les spaghettis pour les enfants. Moi j'aime la pasta, mamma mia comme c'est bon ! Buonissimo ! "] For the past seven years, Bruno has served 300 free meals daily -- and more than half a million in total. SOUNDBITE 4 Bruno Serato (man), Restaurant owner (French, 5 sec): "It's the end of the month and what happens? Well, the parents don't have any money left so, at home, they don't eat." ["On est à la fin du mois. Alors qu'est ce qui arrive ? Et bien les parents n'ont plus d'argent, et chez eux ils ne mangent pas"] SOUNDBITE 5 Alandra (10 yo girl), Member of the "Boys and Girls club" (English, 8 sec): "If we didn't have him here, we would be hungry…" UPSOUND Bruno Serato (man), Restaurant owner (English, 3 sec): "You like my pasta? Good!" Bruno wants to help the "motel kids" find proper, permanent homes. But for now, he's providing them something as basic and necessary as a home-cooked meal. ---------- SHOTLIST: ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY 21, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - Lisna walking up the stairs to her motel room UPSOUND Lisna - VAR inside their motel room SOUNDBITE 1Marista Wati Santoso - VAR inside their motel room SOUNDBITE 2 Lisna Wati Santoso - CU of the Comfort Inn sign - WS of a kid on his scooter ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY 26, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - shot of kids arriving at the club - pan from the kids playing pool to the club's director walking by - CU of pool table SOUNDBITE 4 Michael Baker ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY 21, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - Bruno Serato setting a table in his restaurant, White House Anaheim ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY 26, 2013, SOURCE: AFPTV - CU of Bruno putting pasta in boiling water UPSOUND Bruno Serato - VAR of Bruno preparing pasta for the kids - VAR of the kids getting their plates SOUNDBITE 5 Bruno Serato SOUNDBITE 6 Alandra UPSOUND Bruno Serato - VAR of kids eating