I’m having trouble finding a spot to park overnight where the police won’t give me a ticket. Since the San Diego city council passed a new law against vehicle habitation that took effect a few weeks ago, RVers and van dwellers like me have been on edge, asking each other what they know, where they park, have they heard anything? Nobody seems to know.
I’ve already received a warning, last week, taking away a favorite spot that numerous other rigs used. As I was leaving and saw the cop working his way down the line, I wondered where those people would go. Now that I’m in the system, a $200 ticket is next, and doubles after that. I can’t risk it.
I left town a couple of weeks ago, going up to L.A. to visit my younger son before heading back to Taos to stay with my friend, Linda. But it was hot. The air conditioner doesn’t work. I’d been told by a mechanic that my radiator is leaking. I worried that my 25-year-old van would overheat in the desert. That didn’t seem like a good idea, so I came back to San Diego to wait for expected money to arrive and pay for repairs. Still waiting.
I took advantage of a friend’s offer to stay in the parking lot of a business where he is a night security guard. I’ve stayed there before and it’s a great spot. The only trouble is that it’s ten miles inland, which in San Diego in the summer means it gets too hot for me during the day. It’s been a muggy summer, and I’m 73. The older I get the less I can tolerate heat and humidity. So I’ve been driving back to Mission Bay every day. The ocean breeze is cool and there’s lots of shade. But gas is expensive. I can’t keep up the daily commute.
I spoke to Mike, an obese, disabled veteran around my age who lives in a rusty, extended Dodge Ram full of what appears to me to be junk. We’ve spoken before, other summers I’ve spent time here in San Diego. He likes my dog, Scout.
I’ve always liked this small park overlooking the bay. During the week, a few people come here and picnic or fish but otherwise, it’s not busy. On the weekends, there are often large parties under the gazebo. Running clubs start off here on Saturday mornings. Sometimes, there’s even a wedding. The parking lot is always full on the weekend, so I usually stay away or come early and claim a spot for the day.
Mike is a fixture here, parked in the farthest spot to the north, next to the dumpster. He’s quiet, doesn’t bother anyone. When I got back here from Taos a couple of months ago, I noticed that the rear roof of his van was covered with black tarp, duct-taped around the edges. Uh-oh, I thought. That did not look promising.
Today, Mike told me he’s received several tickets so far. The last time, he was warned that they will tow his van away if he stays overnight again. Now, he moves to a private lot not far away for the night, and so far no one has bothered him. So far. I used to stay in that same lot every night with no problem, but I don’t want to draw attention to it by my presence and risk what might be Mike’s only safe place.
He told me about a spot not far from here where he spent five years with no trouble, and recommended I go there. It’s a hotel parking lot. There may be new security people and regulations now, but it’s worth a shot.
There are supposed to be “safe parking lots” where you can sign up for social services leading to getting back into housing, but they’re overwhelmed. Mike said he called and was told there is no room. I called after I got that warning and left a message. No one called back.
This is how things are now, in more and more cities. Homeowners see the growing influx of people in vehicles, and they feel threatened. Not all of those people are respectful and clean, which paints the rest of us with the same brush, and laws get passed. Police crack down. And homeless people are left with nowhere to go.
No one seems to connect this problem with the housing crisis and the economy. You see what you consider unsavory people in your neighborhood, and you just want them to go away. You don’t care how that happens. Or why they’re here in the first place. So you complain to the police and politicians, and they come up with a law that makes the way these people live illegal.
How does that solve the problem?
In my case, I’m just stuck here for a while. I have somewhere to go. But Mike, along with thousands of others in San Diego, is stuck permanently. Is more low-income housing being built? Last I heard, the answer was no, and Section 8 waiting lists were ten years long. (I haven’t researched this yet, so will update that information when I do.)
Rents are skyrocketing in big cities like this across the country, especially on the West Coast. It seems to me that this is the real problem. Until housing costs are within reach of everyone, those RVs and vans you see parked everywhere aren’t going away.
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We are in a changing society, LaVonne. We all know change is the only constant. Rents in big cities are getting ridiculous mainly because the owners of rental properties are in a”sellers'” market. Supply and demand.
Many of the younger folks (millennials) are either burdened by student loan debt so they can’t buy and are forced to rent or there is a change in mindset about the, so-called,” American Dream” that has them choosing to rent rather than own property.
After owning a couple homes back in the ’70s & ’80s, I found it to be economically to my advantage to rent homes. I ended up living a much better lifestyle in locations and homes I rented than I could have afforded to buy.
However, today, with approaching 130 million people 50+ in the U.S. there’s a greater need for decent rental properties than ever. And, of course, many, if not most, of the financial resources of the senior market of potential renters is not near that of the millennials, so, decent low cost housing is as you noted.
I believe three potential answers are going to arise.
One is affordable senior retirement tiny house communities. We don’t really need more than 300 to 400 sq ft to live comfortably.
The second is various forms of communal living. Yep! Many of us are just old hippies or hippie wannabes anyway. A group rents a large house and shares it.
The third is senior communal RV/van communities. Slab City is an example, however, it’s a very poor example. I’ve been there. It wouldn’t attract me Escapees has such a concept in a portion of their End of the Rainbow Park in Livingston, TX. I’ve been there, too, and I could see that working on a similar basis all over the country.
I’ve already seen signs of these concepts, but it needs to become a movement. The need is growing every year. I personally avoid big and even medium sized cities. I grew up in Northern NJ in the NYC metro area and I lived in Syracuse, NY and Wash. DC. Not for me. But, there are possibilities for everyone if some kind of organized initiative were created.
Sorry my comment is so long, but your post is about an increasingly important issue.
The old hippie in me used to wish I could live in a commune. Not any more, but I know communal living is the answer for a lot of people. Slab City? Yuck, for me, but some people love it, and good for them. I’m mainly concerned about those who were forced into vans, old RVs, and even cars by the high cost of housing. They’re afraid to leave the city and try the much more pleasant life of camping in national forests and other public land–perfectly legal, as you know, but they don’t. When you’ve spent your entire life in the city except for an occasional vacation, it’s hard to imagine leaving the convenience and familiarity of it–especially if you don’t have any extra money for repairs on your older vehicle. I guess that’s why I keep coming back here. I love San Diego too much to stay away long.
LaVonne, I have to wonder why driveway rental hasn’t been an idea for people needing somewhere to park to sleep plus if you charge someone $5+ bucks a night the owner makes a bit of cash I see a bigger up side than a down side….but that is just me……
Lots of people rent driveways, from what I hear, in other cities. But I think San Diego makes it illegal to live in a vehicle even on private property. I’ll have to check that out. Thanks for suggesting it.
Lavonne, I am so sorry that these changes are being made in a city that has long been thought to be friendly to vandwellers. You are an excellent reporter, and as you continue to write about this, we will all hope to learn how we can help. It is threatening to me and to all of us who live a nomadic lifestyle.
It has been interesting to read your comments and the others also.
We own an 04C210P. It is a Roadtrek van we bought from the 1st owner. We done a bit to it and it runs well.
We’ve take 2 three week vacations in it, visiting family from CA to OH.
Hubs is still working 3 days a week. So we can’t leave with no return date, yet. Hope to soon!
Thanks, Martha — hope to see you down the road!
Dearest LaVonne, I’ve missed you. One thing car and van dwellers are doing in New Zealand is working with fruit growers who let them park in the farm, for doing a little weeding or pruning during off season and picking or packing during that time. It seems to work well for older types, who have a dog or two.
Be well,
Andrew