'Vanlords' in Los Angeles: Homeless call RV's that offer shelter and little else home

[christophermedina]

Homelessness is no longer just for drug users. It’s also for the working class. Those who work 40 hours a week and still can’t afford rent. You make $2000-$3000 a month and still can’t afford anything in this city. I’m even talking about those with shiny bachelors degrees. Heck even EMTs and CNAs can make $16-$20 hour and still not be able to afford housing.

[Alex-x]

The fact that you can have a full time job and still not afford to have your own place is just disgusting.

[LABoyko]

The irony of the matter is plenty of housing exists in L.A.. None of it affordable.

[Bart-dgqv]

Hey, my landlord told me last week he wants the rent unchanged due to my payment stability and the way I take care of his property. Yesterday got the message from him, that he rethink the case and wants 20% more. Now I understand how Europe history developed in late '30s.

[MistypedCreations]

There's something very wrong when someone who's working 40hrs a week can't afford rent. Transitional housing is only a temporary solution and wouldn't allow a senior like her to keep her dog. Dogs/cats are very important to and provide companionship to these people.

[terryhayward]

I don't see a problem with people living in a motor-home, but I DO see a real problem with the mess outside them. Keep the vehicle and surrounding area tidy, and nobody would likely bother them.

[rhouse]

Same thing happening in Tampa! People moving in RV's and have full time jobs or are seniors on fixed incomes.

[Evil_pinata]

Well when rent is so freaking high, what else are people supposed to do? Not saying it’s right but some people would rather do this than give up virtually their entire paycheck just to get stuck in a vicious cycle.

[Mlogan]

When I was a kid I always thought a dystopian future in America was just science fiction, but now it's fast becoming a reality.

[robinbanks]

Don’t ever become homeless here in australia! My wife and I were some years ago and had no choice but to live in our van. We were quiet, put rubbish in bins and councils moved us on or be fined. It was “the looks” all sorts of people gave us knowing our van was our home was disgraceful and disgusting. We don’t drink nor drug and we’re just chill friendly people. Seemed nobody including councils wanted us anywhere and my question to this day remains “where to you want homeless people to be then huh!” Treating your fellow man like s**t no matter what their circumstances says everything about the people treating you like that. Be nice and kind to everyone everywhere in this life because you just don’t know what someone’s going through.

[hellokittydimaggio]

Not sure how people r surviving when a mere room cost $800-1200 a ROOM

[Katman]

Homelessness Can Happen To Anyone These Days 😔

[cindy]

So these vanlords are collecting rent with these RVs parked on free public streets? I’m sure it’s a 100% unreported cash business.

[michelleshaw]

I'm a permanently disabled, Blind Senior that has been homeless over a year. I was living in Senior housing but due to a new director on the board had a conflict with ME personally I was thrown, literally, into the street after 30 days. I lived there over 4 years, paid my rent faithfully, never missed, got along with all the other tenants and when I asked why, they said they didn't have a reason and didn't need one. It was on December 8. 2021 during Covid and in the Rocky Mountains, snowing. I had lived in the County 36 years, worked, paid taxes, involved in schools, community, raised 2 sons myself, that are good citizens, and because someone didn't like me, I was homeless with nowhere to go. They even took my power chair and disposed of it. I am BLIND, alone, and terrified, can't drive, no public transportation. So, it can happen to anyone, for no reason even. I've never felt so down, scared, ashamed, and hopeless. My disability with the new big raise is $906
A month. I can't afford rent and I physically can't work. I want to but, my body says no way. We are homeless and hopeless out here. If I was an illegal alien I would be cared for, or a criminal. Why is crime so rampant, why are there crazy, angry people everywhere, why are our citizens homeless?? Jobless??? We take care of everybody else but our own. We have VETERANS that are homeless, without medical care, but we send BILLIONS to Ukraine, Turkey, anybody have a problem? Uncle Sam will help!! unless you're an American. People thonk SeniorsvNd Disabled people are taken care of. We are NOT. Let me know when there's a glimmer of hope. Lol. I'm in the 1992 White Jeep, living there. Those RVs look pretty good to me with rent I might be able to pay.
A Colorado Mountain Grandma USA 💔🥀😢🇺🇸
I know it's Cali you're talking about but the story is the same, all across this once fine Country. Same story, different location. 😭

[jeffs]

People cannot afford to live thus they are forced to downsize and live in their vehicles as a last resort. What do you expect?

[prestonpittman]

You can't ignore how bad things really are now!

[YouTubeSlobsOnDaNob]

I left almost a decade ago. I had to be making 3x the rent in order to stay in my apartment, and I made groceries work, had my utilities paid, but for nothing else. And then getting burglarized and all valuables being taken was the last straw. Cops showed up 14 hours later. 🤦🏾

[minoltaaraya]

What people don’t understand is that many of these ‘homeless’ people are paying the same amount for those RVs as rent costs for apartments. No one is renting to a homeless person because of the well intentioned, yet flawed legislation that makes it SO difficult to evict here.. I offered 3 months rent plus deposit for a place they just would not rent to me because of my credit which was only low from student loans and as an artist with difficult to prove/inconsistent income I got stuck in a cycle of way more expensive subleases. We need affordable houses but more than that we need landlords to actually rent to people with less than a 700 credit score. These RVs are a symptom of this public health emergency, not the cause.

[puffs]

More tiny villages, please! Open up abandoned properties, set up city owned RV's, set up reasonable rents (working people only not drug dealers with money), with amenities like restrooms with showers, this would help people like this woman that can't afford apartment living, but still deserve to exist!

[Sweetpixels]

hmmm driving out people with low incomes who are trying to avoid homelessness, nowadays people who have jobs are living in RV's and vans yet LA is trying to drive them out. 'ONLY THE WEALTHY MAY LIVE HERE' That's a little NEW YORK of you there LA.