They don’t have the name recognition of a Motel 6, but low prices, little competition and a sense of community help Indian hoteliers withstand inflation.

The buildings are typically located near major thoroughfares. But developers say conversions are “not for the faint of heart.”

The high-end project is clearing motels that provide an informal safety net for low-income renters. Officials say the motels are rife with code violations.

Kai Ryssdal talks with Christopher Dum about his new book “Exiled in America: Life on the Margins in a Residential Motel”