The Elderly Poor in Downtown San Diego Hotels

Eighty-two elderly residents of 12 skid row, working class, and middle class hotels in downtown San Diego, California, were interviewed to study the social arrangements by which they meet their mental health needs and avoid dependency. The hotels emerged as a major source of support. Social differences were found among residents of the middle class hotels, compared to the skid row and working class hotels, whereas skid row and working class residents did not differ from each other on the variables studied.