LOS ANGELES — Among the 7,000 homeless moved into hotel rooms to ride out the pandemic are people with compromised lungs and hearts. California counties have leased more than 15,000 hotel rooms as part of Project Roomkey, which Gov. Gavin Newsom launched in March to protect vulnerable homeless people.

The state has an estimated 150,000 homeless, which is the most in the country. County officials say it's been more difficult than expected to find appropriate hotels, negotiate leases and set up operations. People in the program must follow rules, including curfews and temperature checks whenever they return from outside.

Some people have been coaxed inside after years sleeping on rough streets.