It’s easier to negotiate with a few hotels than with 1000’s of individual landlords. It also puts them in one place where they can be easily monitored and wher

It’s easier to negotiate with a few hotels than with 1000’s of individual landlords. It also puts them in one place where they can be easily monitored and where social services can find them. Hotels also can provide food, cleaning and laundry services which many homeless might need. Unless you have a large stock of concentrated social housing this is quite likely the most cost effective option. It simplifies negotiations, doesn’t involve housing contracts, takes advantage of existing infrastructure and available services and doesn’t trigger NIMBYism. They might be overpaying but one can easily understand why they went with this option.