Waterslide

Children enjoy making a splash in the water as they come off a waterslide.

Children enjoying making a splash in water as they come off a waterslide.

Each pays $230 a month for the crowded living space that is mostly taken up by three beds and a mattress on the floor. Ms. Silva and her roommates do most of their cooking in microwave ovens; they have wireless Internet and access to the motel pool and waterslide.

"We ended up at Wet 'n' Wild on the Gold Coast and spent the next four hours hurtling down waterslides.