The Hidden Homelessness Crisis In California (HBO)

There is a shortage of affordable housing in every state in the country, but it's especially bad in California — where there's only one affordable housing unit for every five extremely low income households.

The gap is not only pushing more and more people out onto the streets—it's also creating a new, fast-growing, and hidden class of homelessness: People who in the past would have been able to afford a room or apartment but now live in their cars by necessity.

Danielle Williams is one of them. She’s a single working mother who has been living in her van with her daughter for five years. At first, it meant sleeping in dark, scarcely populated areas, and being hassled by the police. But thanks to a program called Safe Parking — a network of parking lots equipped with porta-potties and lot monitors — she can now stay in her car overnight without worrying about her safety.

VICE News traveled to California to see how the new program is helping people like Danielle live a little more comfortably, and met with a government official who’s frustrated there aren’t longer term solutions to help the roughly 16,000 people in Los Angeles who now sleep in their cars.

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[VICENews]

People who in the past would have been able to afford a room or apartment but now live in their cars by necessity.

[Markkronn]

I've lived in my car for 9months and it was hard...didn't let friends, family or coworkers know..but I had to do it so that my kids and their mom could have a place to live and money to get by..hardest part was finding places for shower and balancing each night between staying in a quiet dark place to be unseen...but at risk of crime or staying in a well lit busy area but then probably being harassed by cops..finally made it out..but my heart goes out to anyone who has to do this and then pretend to live a normal life

[misguidedyouth]

How you gonna spend 225 on a phone bill but still need wifi? I pay 50 bucks a month and get unlimited everything

[zokotuckikazu]

California is insanely expensive. I was homeless for 2 years when I got out of the Army. I worked at Google for a while and some of the Google employees would sleep in vans and mobile homes in order to save money up for a house or to pay off debts. Paying rent is basically like flushing money down a toilet. It doesn’t make sense. If you’re homeless or ever have been, my heart goes out to you. I know how you feel.

[dikaitang]

How I live a $1500 in California: A room in a shared house 800$, a cheap crap car with insurance $100, prepaid ATT 8G $30, food from grocery $500, I ate steaks and organic vege everyday.

[ssVegeta]

When I was homeless and lived in my car I switched to prepaid T-Mobile and I budgeted heavily on food and had planet fitness membership as well as went to a center for homeless to use for free foods showers laundry restroom and i went to food closets as well as turned to emergency shelters in winter and used public restrooms in hospitals (open 24hrs) and got Job with temp agency making $14/hr full time and $19/hr overtime and factory work has lots overtime so I always took it and eventually shifted to hotels as well as saved money and eventually found place to stay

[Innzzzzzzz]

I worked for Delta as a supervisor, and was homeless in my car--- secretly slept in my car for a while in their parking lot... it happens... it can happen to any of us! praying for a great outcome for everyone out there

[jesssandoval]

$225 for 2 phones.... boost has plans for $40 a month.. come on 🤦🏼‍♀️

[BeverlyTalley]

we need big money/companies to not be able to buy single-family homes. Honestly, there should be regulation over this, its just disgusting. Most times it amazes me greatly how I moved from an average lifestyle to earning over $63k per month, Utter shock is the word. I have understood a lot in the past few years that there are lots of opportunities in the financial market. The only thing is to know where to invest.

[mrc]

The right decision is to put school off, work two jobs, and move outta California. Then pursue school.

[soysauce]

Poor dog. It’s locked up in that tiny cage the entire day everyday.

[emzie]

I feel sorry for her daughter, she gets to sleep in the front seat when the mother is lying in a "bed". I also feel sorry for the dogs / dog, it just shook when she would take it out, I wonder if it really gets the exercise and care that a dog needs, it should not have to live in a cage.

[nickc]

So many people who think they know what’s best for these women. Mind ya business, this could be any of us in a heartbeat.

[purberri]

Poor money management and decisions get one phone, use camping gas heaters to cook food. Move out of Santa Barbara, there are cheaper places to live.

[connor]

900 dollars a month on food god damn surely there's cheaper alternatives

[sprinkles]

Back when I was a kid I remember people looking down on those who lived in hotel rooms. Cant believe its now this bad.

[Krissilips]

Leave California. There are plenty of places in the US where you can make it with $2000 a month.

[dsanti]

Her food budget alone is the cost of my rent

[natsukikr]

They should change their lifestyle. They're homeless and still spends beyond their means.

[golfgirl]

Bless her for trying to make a stable place for her daughter and two dogs. Who are we to say what she pays for with her limited funds.
She’s working, her daughter is going to school. Take care.