After work, I had to DoorDash to pay for our motel room. I brought my toddler with me to avoid childcare costs.

"I worked as a kitchen prep cook for $11 an hour. My earnings weren't enough to cover the $60-a-night motel fee, but I was determined to make it work. It was essential for me to find more than one stream of income, and I thought long and hard about what I could do."

"Some of my friends were delivering for DoorDash, and I was attracted to the flexible hours. I realized I could do it after my shift at the restaurant. Emory went to day care when I was in my regular job, but it was easy for me to take her on DoorDash runs in the afternoon and early evenings."

"There's no way I could have taken on another job if I had to pay a babysitter. It would have defeated the purpose. We'd amuse ourselves in the restaurant or takeout place if there was a long wait, then I'd drive to the destination."

Emma Miller, a 32-year-old mother from Columbia, South Carolina, moved into a motel with her 2-year-old daughter Emory in June 2025, seeking independence despite the $60 nightly cost. Her kitchen prep cook job at $11 per hour was insufficient to cover expenses. She pursued DoorDash delivery work for its flexible scheduling, allowing her to work after her restaurant shift without requiring childcare. She brought Emory along on deliveries during afternoons and early evenings. DoorDash income relied heavily on customer tips rather than flat fees. The motel owners accommodated her nightly payment arrangement, enabling her to earn enough daily to sustain their living situation.

Read at Business Insider