Columbia Inn

The sheets were nice, and it was handy to have a mini fridge, small coffee maker, bedside lamps with charging plugs, plenty of hot water, and two-ply toilet paper. But the beds were hard and the pillows thin. You could hear every vehicle on the main road as well as neighbors talking in the next rooms. The bathtub and toilet need a serious scrub, along with the bathroom vent, walls, and back of the front door.

The only good thing is the location. It's close to downtown and everything the city offers. It's a halfway house for homeless people in the area, and walking by at night feels very sketchy, with weirdos sitting out front staring at you. Every time I pass the office, someone is either inside taking a nap or glued to their phone and not paying attention to anything.

The room was really clean, cleaner than plenty of places I've stayed at for two or three times the price. The toilet was small but perfectly adequate. It's a nice roadside place for the night, within walking distance of downtown and stumbling distance back from the waterfront breweries, all for a great price. Check the AC/heater before settling in. Mine had an annoying high-pitched squeal so bad you couldn't stay in the room, let alone sleep. The person at the office was great at check-in and when we reported it. She said they were working on replacing the units, but had no other room available. Luckily it was actually warm at the coast, right, and there was a box fan in the office she let us use in the window.

Being homeless is hard every day, sometimes every hour. This hotel that became an emergency shelter saved my life. I'd never been in this situation and had no idea what to expect. I will never forget my winter of 2024 at the Columbia Inn. Cheryl, the sweet woman in charge, did a great job hiring staff who help and interact with residents. They helped me a lot with food, laundry, fresh towels, and sheets. Above all, they treated me like a regular human being. I never felt looked down on or judged, and that really warmed my heart. Dealing with the general public while homeless can often make life harder and more discouraging. Every day I saw the staff being genuinely kind to all residents, not only me. Astoria can be proud of its local people working here. It's not an easy job, with residents who can be unpredictable, rude, ungrateful, or dangerous, yet the staff inspired me every day with their kindness. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.