Bridging the Gap: Exploring Temporary Housing as a Tool for Abortion Access
The nation’s leading abortion hotline reported a 195 percent increase in hotel room bookings in the year following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This 2022 landmark Supreme Court decision ruled there is no federal constitutional right to abortion, leaving abortion access to the states, with some states banning or severely restricting abortion and others improving and protecting it. Now, the journey to access abortion care in America has become increasingly treacherous, forcing individuals to travel hundreds of miles across state lines to reach providers. As a result, the financial burden of arranging lodging and transportation, coupled with the emotional toll of leaving home, becomes insurmountable.
The lack of accessible lodging near clinics is not just an inconvenience; it’s a public health crisis threatening the well-being of those already marginalized by economic and social barriers. State and local governments have an opportunity to meet the needs of their current residents; those who travel in-state to the closest facility, often in distant counties, and out-of-state patients, traveling from states implementing full-out bans against abortion care with no exceptions. With a government-subsidized lodging program, New York can accommodate the high traveling demands that have peaked since 2022 and address the delays in care that disproportionately affect marginalized populations.
Demand for travel means a greater need for logistical support, including short-term lodging. As a prior Health Educator and Front Desk Supervisor for an abortion clinic, I witnessed patients sleeping in their cars after traveling for hours before their appointments. I consoled them after their ultrasound results came back, requiring a two-day procedure when the patient came from another state. In haste, they would cold-call family members looking for a place to stay, or jump through hoops to find additional cash for a hotel room. Ultimately, these obstacles left them no other choice but to cancel their appointment.
These stories become invisible in the presence of the many tragic experiences that reach major news outlets. Barriers to accessing abortion have been catching the attention of the public due to the clear disparities present based on race and gender identity. What public health experts often miss are the turbulent stories of people who miss their gestational window for an abortion due to housing plans falling through. There are patients who have done the “song and dance” of obtaining an appointment hundreds of miles away, just to fall a few dollars short of a hotel room. The lengths patients go through are admirable, but why should such a common, life-changing procedure boil down to those who have the means and those who do not?
The New York Department of Health can meet the needs of marginalized populations seeking abortion care by offering a government-subsidized housing program to practical support organizations for short-term lodging. In addition to the State’s existing abortion access support, lodging subsidies to partnering clinics, abortion fund organizations, and multi-family homeowners offer housing assistance, which will compensate for the patients’ nightly stay and strengthen structural support to a very insidious public health issue. Moreover, this program would benefit marginalized communities disproportionately impacted by restrictive abortion laws, such as low-income individuals and people of color, who are most impacted by abortion bans and struggle to afford these travel-related expenses.
As with any new strategy, there may be skepticism about a housing assistance program for abortion patients or concerns about the feasibility of implementation. Opponents might argue that government-subsidized lodging for abortion patients unfairly prioritizes abortion over other healthcare needs. To this, I call their attention to the many government-supported partnerships already supporting patients seeking housing. One example is the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge Program, which provides free lodging for cancer patients who must travel far from home for treatment. With substantial public and private funding support, this program has demonstrated how lodging assistance can reduce financial barriers and alleviate stress, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Practical support programs are already the standard for patients who are met with limited health services in their home state and few specialty providers nationwide. With abortion access once again at risk during Trump’s second administration, now is the time for a high-volume state like New York to integrate supportive measures.
Securing a place to stay should never be the deciding factor between receiving necessary medical care and going without it. Pregnant people seeking one of the most common medical procedures in healthcare shouldn’t have to sleep in their cars until the day of their appointment. As abortion access continues to be a cross-country journey for millions, government-subsidized lodging programs could offer a seamless triage of patients for the New York City Abortion Access Hub and further close the gap in health disparities. I urge the New York Department of Health to consider expanding the lodging support to further meet the needs of traveling abortion patients.