While we have a campervan (RoadTrek Chase 50)...
... this post pertains to all kinds of RVs and RVers. There are communities out there that are "going after" RVs.
The RV industry paints an ideal image of RVing - as you'd expect; they are in the business of selling RVs and the "RV lifestyle." They are intentionally turning a blind eye to a growing category of people in RVs: the homeless. I am not talking about "full-time" RVers, who are living in their choice of RV and getting out to enjoy a mobile lifestyle. I am talking about people who are living in a dilapidated RV that is parked on the street; it may or may not be in any kind of condition to move.
In the eyes of many community leaders, these are a blight. And, I understand why they think so: these rigs were never designed for full-time living, they have no means of getting this conveyance to a dump station, so they are most likely dumping their waste water out on the street. They are parked on a public street with the hope that they will go unnoticed and they will be left alone. Homeowners in these neighborhood DO notice. Most communities have local ordinances that allow up to 72 hours for an RV to be parked on the street, so that the owners can load or unload in front of their home. The ones I am talking about have no home... if not for this run-down RV, they would be living on the street.
I am not unsympathetic to the homeless issues. But, putting a ratty conveyance on a public street, in front of someone's home with the idea of living there, is going to be challenged. Homeowners will complain to their City Council and State Legislatures... new laws are being enacted.
The results of an internet search:
While there is no precise nationwide percentage of RV owners who are homeless, approximately 486,000 to 1 million
Americans live full-time in RVs, with a significant, growing portion
doing so due to economic necessity rather than lifestyle choice. In
cities like Los Angeles and Oakland, RV dwellers constitute over half of
the unsheltered population.
- Full-Time Living: An estimated 486,000 to 1 million people live in their RVs full-time.
- Vehicular Homelessness:
In areas like Seattle and California, people living in
vehicles—including RVs—make up roughly 28% to over 50% of the
unsheltered population.
- Economic Factors:
A large percentage of full-time RVers earn less than $75,000 annually,
indicating many are living in RVs as a cheaper alternative to
traditional housing or due to economic distress.
- Distinction:
While some RVers are "nomads" by choice, many in cities are forced into
this situation, and their vehicles often lack proper amenities.
The
number of people living in vehicles, including RVs, has increased
significantly, with a 146% rise in some California counties since 2015.
The "VanLife" culture has played a part in this. There are many vanlifers online who tout how "you can live in your RV and always find places to park (for the night or longer) that are free. Many modern Class B vans (ours included) are designed and advertised as being able to be used without being in a campground or RV park. That is due to large lithium battery systems, solar panels on top, underhood generators, and 3,000 watt inverters. They are somewhat self-contained for their energy needs. A relatively large freshwater tank (ours can hold 33 gallons of fresh water) for the size of the vehicle allows for showers, cooking, doing dishes, and flushing your toilet. But, at some point, the gray water and black water tanks are going to need to be dumped. At that point, you need to be in a campground or RV park, or stop at someplace like Loves or Flying J that will generally have a dump station.
Living "normally," we could go 3 days or so before needing to dump our tanks. We could definitely go longer with our previous motorhomes or 5th wheel, but they did not have the lithium battery systems. We are just fine with being in an RV park - we like to overnight somewhere safe.
That is not happening with the RVs I am referring to in this post. RVers used to be able to overnight in a Walmart or Cracker Barrel parking lot - those options are getting fewer and fewer, as people who have taken advantage of the situation (staying more than one night, littering, dumping tanks, creating anxiety with shoppers or diners) have ruined it. And those living in a run-down RV that can't move have turned entire communities off on "the RV lifestyle." For full disclosure, those numbers above include people living in their cars or other vehicles.
For those who might ask, no, we have never had an issue with being lumped into any category while out in our van. In fact, it isn't unusual for people to ask about it... most often, they want to know what amenities we have and the cost... I generally give a "cost range," since manufactured Class Bs (different from self-converted or built by someone who does one at a time) can run from around $100k to well over $250k. Class Bs like this are a travel choice, not something that someone is living in as a last resort. But, a self-converted van, minivan, or SUV may also be something you see "stealth parked" on a public street... not just an old travel trailer or motorhome.
In the past, we have seen this in some RV parks - "liveaboards" who don't travel, but live in a campground full-time. Some communities are starting to go after this, as well: legislating how long an RV can be in a campground. State and National Parks generally have a 14 day limit. Most commercial campgrounds don't have a limit, although many offer weekly and monthly rates that are less expensive than the daily rate. These, also, are not what I am talking about.
Besides the sanitation issues of what some consider squatters, there is the matter of registration... licensing... insurance. What illegal activities are happening in and around these conveyances? How would you feel as a homeowner if a half-dozen of these parked in front of your home?
A lot of questions... answers to be determined. For sure, it isn't doing anything for the image of the RV industry.
photo from Los Angeles
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While we're talking about the van, we ran some errands this morning, then pulled the van out of storage. One of the things on my to-do list today was cleaning the van. It was grubby when we drove it to Fountain Hills on Monday. Well, mostly the front - in our covered storage area, if we get any weather (as in: rain) from the north, the front of the van gets it. It was mostly dusty, but I was up for a good bath. To do it right generally takes me 1 1/2 to 2 hours; right on schedule with that today. I finished in time for Murphy and Stella to get their noon meal.
It cleans up good...
Yeah, that is with the .5 wide angle lens on my iPhone. Of course, that makes me want to get out in the van. I may have to sit in the driver's seat and make "motor noises"... or maybe go out there and take a nap. Either one works.
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Yeah, I know: I'm the only one that gets fired up about the van... "Where's the cat content? That's the only reason we're here!" Wow, a bit demanding, don't ya think?
As you requested...
That is little Stella sitting in the stroller. In the living room. She has no idea it moves - she is enjoying the perspective. Even though Murphy told her, "It's a trap! They let you think it's another place to nap and next thing you know, you're getting rolled down the sidewalk! I didn't know if they were gonna bring me back! They'll probably dump you off somewhere."
That's not very nice, Murphy. Stella has been with us for two months, as of yesterday... she is family. And to Murph's point, I will be taking her for a walk in the stroller at some point. Joan brought it in and put it in the living room yesterday, letting Stella get used to it. Baby steps. If you look close, you can see that Stella is wearing a harness - that's the first step in getting her comfortable with what it will take for her to be a traveling cat.
