Storage Locker, Sweet Storage Locker

We're all familiar with self-storage facilities; those pole-barn type buildings that house dozens, or even hundreds, of individual self-storage units. The number of self-storage unit companies has risen dramatically in recent years as people accumulate more possessions than they know what to do with. While lockers fil up with all manner of household goods, off-season outdoor equipment and sporting goods, seasonal decorations, outgrown clothing, and the contents of Grandma's attic when she moves to a retirement home, some self-storage lockers are being turned into living quarters by people who have few other resources for affordable housing.

The November 2007 arrest of a woman who allegedly locked her daughters in a storage unit for three nights in a row brings to public attention a hidden segment of life. Homeless shelters often turn away people because they are already overcrowded, or homeless persons may choose not to live in a shelter to avoid the threat of catching contagious illnesses and petty thefts common to such housing. It may take years to rise to the top of the list for subsidized housing. With housing prices rising quickly, and the shortage of affordable and available rental housing, more people are forced to live in any makeshift shelter they can find.

The owners of these storage unit companies may not know that people are living in the individual units that they rent. Owners who are aware that their units are being occupied may look the other way as long as the rent is paid each month and the occupants don't cause any trouble.

Reports indicate that there are people living in self-storage units in many parts of the country. While it is illegal to live in storage units, or any place that doesn't meet certain building and fire codes, many people, even families, who are desperate for a roof over their head are choosing to create efficiency apartments in these units. While these units don't have running water and other basic necessities, many are electrically lit and may even be climate-controlled. The illegal occupants may use a propane stove for heat, and add a few comforts of home like a bed, TV, clothing rack, and hot plate. Showers may be taken at a local health club or at work.

Those who can't find permanent employment because of their age, health, or criminal records may resort to living in storage lockers when no other shelter or family support is available. Temporary employment may provide enough money to rent a unit large enough to call home. Extraordinary circumstances will cause people to do whatever they need to do to survive or provide a home for their children, however humble it is.