By Chuck Woodbury
Does anyone who studies the RV lifestyle believe that the legions of America’s poor and disadvantaged who live in dilapidated RVs on city streets will suddenly find better housing and move on? Those of us who observe the RV industry and are honest about it say “no.” The ranks of these people are growing, and the efforts of most communities to deal with the ensuing problems boils down to convincing them to pack up and move to another town.
It’s the game of “RV Hot Potato.” The tokens are junky RVs.
Most mid-to-large cities have such mobile “Hoovervilles.” They may be scattered all around a town, in vacant lots, or along streets where they may stretch for miles.
I understand what is happening, and you probably do, too: If a person can’t afford traditional housing, then sleeping in an RV, no matter how beat up, is a whole lot better than sleeping on a sidewalk in a cardboard box.
14 people share two beds
In the video below from a Los Angeles TV station, meet a woman who shares a beat-up, tarp-covered motorhome with 13 other people — all of them sharing two beds. And meet another man who is what’s become known as a “vanlord,” who buys decrepit RVs at auction and then rents them to the poor, in his case for $500 a month.
In the unincorporated Los Angeles area profiled in this news report, 500 RVs are parked along the streets. About 3,500 homeless people live in them, including 100 children.
If I were filthy rich, I would form a non-profit association to study this issue. Heaven knows it’s incredibly complicated. The RV Industry Association (RVIA), which represents RV manufacturers, pays no attention. I understand they won’t be producing a TV commercial anytime soon promoting living on the streets in a decrepit RV. But they’d better start paying attention to what’s going on out there, far from their cushy offices. To ignore this blight on our communities will one day come back to bite them when cities everywhere become overrun with mobile slums. Solutions then will become even more difficult, and the image of RVers could harken back to the old “trailer trash” days.
After watching the video, please answer the poll below.
And now, our poll:
##RVT1110
As long as the economy is as pathetic as it has been since ’21, it’ll only grow. Ever since the rona, conglomerates have been buying up homes and pricing people out of them. States need to put an end to that practice. And we need new leadership. A good economy puts butts on the production lines. Something sorely missed from 42 on. Some say it is the price of the American worker. Fine. But you also lost the quality of product by moving overseas.
I think it will only grow, here’s why:
RV ownership has increased by over 62% in the last twenty years, with 11.2 million RV-owning households as of 2021
18-34 year olds make up 22 percent of RV owners, up from 8.47% in 2018
9.6 million households intend to purchase an RV in the next five years
The median annual usage for current RV owners is roughly 20 days, while those intending to buy an RV plan to use it roughly 25 days per year
With all that in mind, think about how you’re going to dispose of the RV in your driveway.
Unlike your pickup, it’s too big and has too much non-recyclable materials to get stuffed into a car cruncher. Nope, it will get peddled all around the landfill to the point it can no longer be peddled. One “waypoint” of the peddle that beats letting it rot until hauled off is repurpose for homeless encampments.
Data Source: https://camperfaqs.com/rv-statistics-trends-facts?gclid=CjwKCAjwkeqkBhAnEiwA5U-uM4J7Ua05BWKdKVlxeqlehkJVzD3ZRbbUvPEriMfLSOb
It’s no mystery why people come to CA. It has a warm climate and there is a lot of $$$ in the state.
Those homeless people aren’t stupid. You think they are going to move to MN and live on the street in the winter.
FL is the same way. On a trip there the homeless were all over. The only difference was they lived in the woods and would come out dressed in their rags during the day to panhandle.
Hopefully the street campers and RV curbdockers read this publication wherein they will find a list campgrounds/campsites for free or little cost. In true ironic fashion, THIS ISSUE has an entire article that references free and cheap campsites but we need to feel bad for high rents in California for California’s self inflicted inbound migration of RV Hobos and RV vagrants. NOT ALL, BUT MOST. IMO.
100% correct on this post.
I’m going to go out on a limb here but is there a chance, remote as it may be, that a large portion of these RV dwellers or the homeless population in general, received between $1,000.00 and $1,400.00 tax free Covid income/week for 2020 and 2021 and lived rent free for those 2 years leaving the landlords holding the bag and a mortgage payment for tennants to live for free. My how soon we forget.
Here we are, 2 years of tax free and rent free living with a 2 year take home pay total between $104k and $150k, with zero rent to pay. Factored, that equates to an over $120k/year pretax job based on west coast rent pricing. My how soon we forget.
Just spitballing here. Now we’re blaming the landlords for being greedy. For high rents? Cry me a river. Self inflicted shot in the foot of our once great, first world west coast cities. Darn those greedy capitalist pig landlords that didn’t get paid for 2 years.
Grow, decline, stay about the same? Any and all could be the answer at any point in time. At this point, given my information, I lean toward “stay about the same.” It isn’t a problem that I see, or have seen. However, the number of people moving to Tennessee is dramatic. Maybe they’ll bring this with them.
I don’t recall ever before seeing such a lop-sided poll on this news letter as this one, with only 1% of respondents thinking RV street dweller numbers will decline in the coming years.
I’m with the 99%ers on this one. I don’t see any improvements in the foreseeable future on the poverty, and inadequate housing issues driving this trend. The causes are systemic in our society, with both political parties to blame for not finding workable solutions. Ultimately this is a Human problem. Politics, and policy can only attempt to regulate it.
And No Richard, the Global Communists aren’t the cause of our problems. We are.
Mostly, I agree with your post Sven and while Richard’s comment of Global Communists may or may not be be exactly on target, it is safe to say with 100% accuracy that it is founded in purposeful destruction. I believe Richard is speaking of a certain Hungarian Billionaire whose explicit goal is the 100% destruction of societal norms in order to rebuild society with different foundation of fairness. Tear it down and start over. Whether it is Socialism, Communism, Marxism, Fasism or Totalitarianism, if he wins, it is not going to be a meritocracy founded under principles of equality. Maybe Equity, but not Equality.
The last time I checked, the Global Communists weren’t allowed to vote in our elections.
Yes, I agree with that statement. I’m pretty sure I didn’t imply they could vote in our elections but regardless, I agree 100% with that statement Sven. 👍🇺🇲
And I’m guilty as charged.
It may not seem like it if you live on the left coast, but there are plenty good sizes cities around America that do not have this problem. There are no doubt many factors, But I believe the main driver is that the populace simply do not tolerate it. Law enforcement actually enforce the law, the result being some leaving for more progressive communities and some living in small worn down apartments instead, which I believe most would argue is the lesser of evil.
The reasons for homelessness are many, varied and complex. The reasons society can’t manage a way to alleviate the problem at its core are many, varied and complex. The most disturbing by far to me of these two separate yet intertwined issues is that of the latter. It is in fact a room filled with mirrors of distortion…and we all are in the room. The roots are much too deep to address on rvtravel.com. But you see some of those mirrors in the responses expressed.
Plainly stated- these conditions will continue to deplete community’s resources as long as people allow it to happen.
The video on homeless RV encampments was very sad, to say the least. I’m glad that derelict rvs are being put to good use, and the “vanlord” doesn’t seem to be taking too much advantage, but the whole situation is just pathetic. I have no solution. Apparently neither does anyone else.
And neither do those who are elected to brain storm and come to an agreeable solution.
ALL of the evidence, some which is noted within the comments here, shows there is an organized effort to undermine and destroy society within the U.S. Global Communists are installing prosecutors that won’t enforce laws; Open borders to overload systems and diminish nationalism; Fanciful, false ideals of green this and that, which only serve to put more control over the population; Outlandish, unnecessary spending to foment inflation, which makes the poor’s situation worse; Creating “Emergencies” on a daily basis which require “More laws” over this and that; Promoting various mental illnesses as mainstream “Rights” that must be supported, to fracture societal norms. All of these things and more are pushing towards more government control of everything. Which of course is the ultimate goal.
It is clearly stated in their many years old manifesto… mix in a little religion, terrorism & extremism to help light the fire…
Well Stated, Richard !!
Division is goal. Divide the masses, create a dystopia from which we can then beg for our safety with the price being merely a few more if our freedoms.
Thank you Richard for your relevant post.
If you think it’s bad now, you aren’t considering the open border issue. Not just destitute people but the drugs and crime too which will grow the homeless.
Big factor in drug use, unfortunately, due to politicians decriminalizing hard core drugs. In my home state of Oregon, drug use after being decriminalized by the democrat liberal governor is off the charts. My two cents, to many elected politicians want a dumbed down, doped up society because they are easier to control.
Plus how many are getting paid to look the other way.
I learned recently that 1/2 of the homeless in the US live in California – for a multitude of reasons but a major one is folks living on wages that 100% of the take-home won’t begin to pay the rent. I feel for anyone who ends up living in an old, falling apart RV on the side of the road (Hmmm! no longer a recreational vehicle by the way) with no running water or worse in an old, beater car or out on vacant lots in cardboard “houses”. And the wages vs. housing cost is widening.
The “Haves” have even more while the “Have-not” have even less. The other articles in this edition deal with the skyrocketing cost of RV sites and Campground overcrowding. So it’s not just the overpriced cost of living in a S&B apartment. There’s no way a minimum wage earner could possibly afford a campsite let alone find one that’s available even if they could afford it for a couple nights a month. Then there’s the 10 year age restriction thing. They’re at a big, fat ZERO chance.
If your premise is correct, then why are those almost 50% of the nation’s homeless living in a state with one if the highest costs of living? Chicken or egg?
Go to cheaper state to live in. Get out of California if you can’t afford the rent. You have an RV, use it, leave if rent is too high.
Ah ha, hefty State Welfare payments and free syringes and open air drug markets and only a misdemeanor fine or ticket for theft under $950.00. And great weather for street camping.
Welcome to an official “doom loop” in San Fran. Next stop, Los Angeles.
Really come on proof!
Exactly how I totally feel and I totally agree 💯.
If you agree with Tom, then tell me how you think the haves, have more. Not hand outs. Hard work I’m guessing.
Seriously, what did I get wrong in my reply to Tom? Help me see the light. If I’m missing something, show me, don’t just stick your tongue out at me like a 7 year old, engage and educate me if you think I’m wrong.
Welcome To The New America!
Well a former republican commander and chief mentioned something about a new world order remember.
Yup, a deep stater for sure.
I don’t what’s going on in the western states but I can tell you here in our little suburban Chicago town this would not be tolerated. Our town has No Parking Anytime signs and a no overnight parking ordinance on city streets. It is strictly enforced. We have the usual panhandlers at intersections, I don’t know know where they sleep at night but certainly not in RV’s on city streets. Even the local Walmart doesn’t allow overnight parking.
In the old days when a bum came into town, the cops would escort him to the city limits and tell him “Move along and don’t come back”.
Your panhandlers drive off in a 60 thousand dollar SUV and to a 500 thousand dollar home all while making 500-1000 per day.
Yep, a TV station in Huntsville, AL several years ago did a multi-part feature story about beggars on the street. “Will work for food” signs didn’t mean what they said, they were wanting money. One person said on TV why would he get a job when he was making $200 a day panhandling? All cash money, no taxes.
It’s good to hear that your town is dealing with this but the problem here in places like CA is that the ruling elite are facilitating this crisis in many ways. CA’s policies attract the homeless & there is no end in sight to how this will change for the better.
Spot on, sadly, not just Calif but many other states with democrats in charge. This is by design.
Drug usage is a major part of the problem. Individual responsibility for you and yours is part of it.
The problem will get worse and spread beyond the West Coast, you can count on it.
Most of those vehicles are way past being unusable and unsafe.
No easy solution.
The bong on the TV explains some of the problem. “yes, I can’t afford a decent home for my kids. I barely got enough for weed”.
Here,here.
Yep!
pretty brazen or stupid to have that shown on TV when you are looking for sympathy/ support for your situation