Never sleep within 500 ft of a residence, school, or daycare. In many cities, this is illegal, with laws specifically prohibiting sleeping or using a vehicle as a residence within a specific timeframe, in some cases between 9 p.m.

These laws even apply to public property, so it’s important to know local laws regarding vehicular sleeping. Also, never sleep in a residential, hospital, gym, church, or business parking lot without permission.

Know where you can sleep so you don’t break the law. Here are 32 safe, legal, and free places to sleep in a car when homeless:

When I was homeless in a van in West Los Angeles, a city-designated parking zone existed near me. It was a response by local governments to deal with the rising homelessness pandemic, and it was in a parking lot of a local park.

He or she watched over us while we slept, and it made everyone feel safe. The way it worked was at around 9 p.m., the security guard came on site and opened up a tall, steel fence.

He or she then assigned you a parking spot. The rules were pretty basic, once you came in you couldn’t go out, and when you were awoken you had to leave, which I think was at 6:00 a.m.

In most cities, however, from my experience, city-designated parking zones are rare. Nonetheless, it may be worth asking a local city official if a safe parking program exists in your area.

According to Road Trip Expert, when granted permission, no federal laws exist against sleeping in a vehicle on private property (1). Thus, if your good friend or family member will allow it, so long as no city ordinances prohibit it, from a legal perspective, a garage is great.

So another safe, free, and legal place to sleep in a car when homeless is the garage of a friend or family member. If you live near a forest, a dispersed camping zone is another great option.

The way it works when you are homeless is that you park at a specific location for up to 16 days, and then after that, you move up the road at least five to ten miles to another site. You do this because, if you don’t, park rangers issue you a ticket.

Keep in mind, however, that at a dispersed campsite, no amenities are provided. These spots are only trees and rocks.

No bathrooms are provided to you, no place to get water and no place to get food either. So be sure you go prepared.

A cell phone will be especially important in the event of a medical emergency. To find a dispersed camping site near you, use the USDA service center locator to find a local phone number to talk to someone about where to go, or google “dispersed camping zones near me.”.

Traditional campsites provide nearby bathrooms, fire pits, and barbecues. They are also usually located near a large lake or river and are often closer than dispersed campsites to a main road.

To find even more traditional campsites near you, search for campgrounds on AllStays, or try downloading one of the many campsite locator apps: Like garages, a driveway of a family member or friend is also a good option because, where city laws permit it, for it to be legal, all you need is permission from the person who owns the driveway.

To persuade a friend or family member to allow you to sleep in your car in their driveway, assure them that you won’t be a nuisance.

Like garages, driveways are also private property so they are 100% legal, so long as city laws don’t condemn it. If a garage or driveway of a caring family member or friend is not an option, another safe, free, and legal place to sleep in a car is in a Walmart parking lot.

The store manager decides based on the availability of parking spaces and laws bounding that particular store about whether or not to allow it. While Walmart’s answer on the FAQ does not refer to cars specifically, (the question that it answers is about RVs,) cars are probably welcome too.

If they do allow it, only park there late at night, use their restroom only once per day, and leave early in the morning. Since Walmart does not intend its parking lot to be a campground, it’s better to spend your days somewhere else rather than to risk getting eighty-sixed for good.

Rest stops are also excellent places to sleep because, so long as signs don’t indicate otherwise, sleeping overnight in a car at them is legal. Many also have security guards on site, so doing so at them is safe.

Security or law enforcement officers do patrol rest stops, and many keep track of who’s coming and going and when. But with that said, sleeping at rest stops is great because they’re one of the few places where motorists are explicitly permitted to sleep.

Since Walmart and Sam’s Club are owned by the same company, it should come as no surprise that, like Walmart, at some locations, Sam’s Club also allows overnight parking. According to Sam’s Club’s help center (14), permission to park overnight is granted at some stores, but not others due to local zoning laws prohibiting sleeping in a vehicle in some areas.

Also, make sure that you clarify that you’re in a car. The website clearly states RVs are allowed, but does not refer to any other motor vehicle type.

To find a location near you, use the Sam’s Club store locator, or google “closest Sam’s Club near me.”. Cabela’s is an American retail chain that specializes in outdoor sporting goods and accessories.

Although no corporate policy exists that specifically indicates that the company permits sleeping in a vehicle in Cabela store parking lots, according to BeginRV, most Cabella stores allow it (2), at least for RVs, given that it is legal in the city in which you do it. To see if a Cabela’s exists near you, use the Cabela’s store locator, or google “closest Cabela’s near me.”.

It offers delicious, homestyle-cooked Southern meals, and a variety of retail stores decorated with Southern American culture. Cracker Barrel also allows motorists to sleep in their parking lots (3), though doing so is only legal if specific permission is obtained from the store manager.

Camping World is a chain of stores in the United States that sells off-road recreational vehicles and camping supplies. According to Boondockers Bible, many Camping World locations allow overnight parking (4).

Some locations allow it, some don’t. To find a Camping World phone number or location near you, use the Camping World locator, or google “closest Camping World to my location.”.

In the US, sleeping in your car if you’re homeless is legal in certain places designated for overnight parking. Sleeping in your car if you’re homeless is a challenging situation that many individuals face across the United States.

However, it’s important to know that the legality of sleeping in your car varies depending on your location within the US. Certain cities and states have implemented specific regulations and designated areas where overnight parking is allowed for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Understanding the Legalities of Sleeping in a Car. Sleeping in a car is a common practice for many people who find themselves homeless in the United States.

When it comes to federal laws regarding sleeping in a car, there is no specific legislation that prohibits it outright. Under federal law, the right to sleep in a car is generally protected as it falls under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to be secure in one’s person and property.

To gain a better understanding of the specific regulations in your area, it’s essential to research the state laws regarding sleeping in a car. It’s important to note that while the federal law provides some protection, state laws may vary and can dictate specific rules or limitations on where and for how long you can legally sleep in a car.

It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state or states you plan to sleep in to ensure you are not in violation and to maintain your safety and well-being. Most states allow individuals to sleep in their cars on public streets, as long as they are not obstructing traffic or violating any other local ordinances.

Remember to always park legally and respect private property rules. Communal areas like parks, shopping centers, or residential streets are often good choices for finding a safe and legal place to sleep in your car.

Understanding both federal and state laws regarding sleeping in a car is crucial for anyone facing homelessness. Being knowledgeable about your rights and the rules in your area will help ensure your safety and allow you to make informed decisions.

Fortunately, there are options available across the United States that provide designated areas where you can rest overnight without breaking any laws. In this article, we will explore three of the most common options: public campgrounds and RV parks, rest areas and truck stops, and designated parking spaces for overnight parking.

These establishments not only offer designated parking areas but also provide various amenities such as showers, toilets, and even electricity hookups. Many of these sites can be found in national parks or state forests, offering scenic surroundings and a serene atmosphere.

Some places may have restrictions on the length of stay or require reservations, so it’s wise to plan ahead. Overall, these locations provide a reliable option for those in need of a secure place to sleep in their car.

These areas are typically designed to provide drivers with a place to rest during long journeys. They are conveniently located along highways and major roads, making them easily accessible.

While some may have restrictions on the amount of time you can stay, many allow overnight parking for several hours or even an entire night. Truck stops, on the other hand, offer additional facilities such as restrooms, food, and fuel supplies, making them a convenient stop for those in need of basic necessities.

These parking spaces are specifically designated for individuals who need a safe and legal place to sleep in their cars. They often come with regulations and time limits to ensure fairness and availability for other users.

Some cities may require permits or limit the duration of stay, while others may only offer these spaces in certain areas. Nonetheless, this option provides an urban alternative for those experiencing homelessness.

By doing so, you can ensure that these safe and legal places continue to be available for those in need of a temporary refuge. Being homeless and living out of your car can be an incredibly challenging and isolating experience.

Whether you’re looking for temporary housing options or assistance with basic needs, these organizations are here to help. If you find yourself without a safe place to sleep and in need of immediate assistance, homeless shelters and transitional housing programs can be a lifeline.

Some of the prominent shelters and transitional housing programs in the US include: In addition to homeless shelters, numerous non-profit organizations focus on providing support and assistance specifically for homeless individuals.

If you need help getting back on your feet, consider reaching out to these non-profit organizations: These are just a few examples of the many resources available to homeless individuals in the US.

Reach out to them and take the first step towards a brighter future. Several states in the United States allow sleeping in your car, including California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona.

The safest place to live in your car is in designated safe parking spots, such as Walmart parking lots. These spots typically have security cameras and are well-lit, providing a safer environment for car dwellers.

You can contact local shelters, seek assistance from non-profit organizations, reach out to government agencies, or seek help from social service programs. You can sleep in designated rest areas, Walmart parking lots, or quiet streets where overnight parking is allowed.

Consider seeking help from local shelters or organizations for alternative options. There are several options for legally sleeping in your car if you find yourself homeless in the US.

Many rest areas and campgrounds also provide overnight accommodations. It’s important to be aware of local regulations and check with local authorities for guidance.

As an Uber driver, Lauren Kush tries to keep her Toyota Prius spotless.

The 36-year-old woman is homeless and has been sleeping in her car at night, converting the back seat into a bed.

“It’s not very comfortable,” Kush said of the tight space. “I’m 5-foot-6 or -7, so I have to make sure I have some legroom, and this is basically it.”.

She’s now among more than 16,000 people in LA County who live in their vehicles – about a quarter of the nearly 60,000 homeless people here.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said in a press release Friday.

Beyond that, sleeping in them on most city streets is illegal. And they often leave inhabitants vulnerable.

“I was harassed constantly,” Kush said of nights spent parallel parked. “People were screaming or there was a fight.”.

“I don’t have to worry about being raped,” she said. “I don’t have to be worried about being robbed in the middle of the night.”.

“The folks who sleep in these lots come from all different backgrounds,” program coordinator Emily Uyeda Kantrim said, noting that college professors and city employees have found a haven in the protected spaces.

Since then, the charity has expanded to eight lots with about 120 spaces across America’s second most populous city.

“These people … have somewhere to be during the day and are productive members of society,” Uyeda-Kantrim said. “You are probably sitting next to them very often without even knowing it.

Santa Barbara opened one of the first safe parking lots in 2004. As the crisis of affordable housing has deepened, similar programs have popped up across California, including in San Diego, Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco, which recently opened its first lot.

That pilot program provides spaces for nearly three dozen vehicles and has bathrooms and showers.

The rising number of homeless residents has Kositsky “very concerned,” he said, adding that cities may need to recalibrate their thinking given the shortage of affordable housing.

In some San Francisco neighborhoods, RVs clog the streets. Several dozen recently lined the impoverished Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood on the western edge of the city’s famous bay.

One of them belonged to Sharhonda Beavers, who said she bought it in June for $2,000. The engine doesn’t start, so moving it requires a tow.

Still, Beavers, 43, says the RV beats living in a tent on the sidewalk.

“I have a house on wheels. Now, I can just start saving my money,” Beavers said, referring to her $1,000 monthly Social Security income.

Having gotten numerous parking tickets, Beavers said the idea of a safe parking lot could appeal to her as long as she can stay independent. Mental health problems have prevented her from holding down a job, she said.

“Life beats you down sometimes, and everybody don’t function the same way, ” she said.

Beavers recently took in a woman she met on the street.

“When she’s feeling down, I can cheer her up.”. Belafonte, 64, said her husband’s illness drained their finances and left her destitute.

“I cook breakfast, I clean out front. We listen to music during the day,” she said, noting how much better it is having a vehicle to sleep in.

On a recent night, the church parking in Koreatown lot fell silent as its occupants shut off their engines and got ready for bed.

Safe Parking LA had connected her with a computer coding program for low-income women. The 16-week, intensive course, offered by the St.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently gave the organization $5 million dollars.

It only could happen, she said, within the confines of the safe parking lot.

“But at the end of this, I’ll be able to get a better-paying job. I’m hustling.

This is not who I am.”.

As it does every night, the Safe to Sleep bus rolled up to Victory Mission’s Cook’s Kettle around 7:20 p.m. on a recent Tuesday, and driver Robin Parker opened the door to a small crowd of homeless people.

A young woman with blond hair bounded up the steps and wrapped her arms around Parker. “I’ve missed you,” the woman cried, rocking Parker back and forth.

Parker asked the woman if she’s been behaving. The woman grinned and told Parker about an upcoming appointment with a case manager.

Please do, I said. I made room for her tiny frame and introduced myself as a reporter.

She told me she didn’t mind talking but didn’t want her name or face in the paper. “And I’m sorry if I ask the same questions over and over,” she said to me.

“I also say ‘I’m sorry’ a lot,” she said, staring straight ahead. Behind the bus, women loaded their bags and belongings into the rear storage area.

I expected maybe a minivan. “We’ve got two wheelchairs, four walkers and two canes that are regulars,” Parker said.

The bus is owned by Council of Churches of the Ozarks, the faith-based organization that has operated Safe to Sleep — an overnight shelter for homeless women — since 2010. Asked what she gets out of driving the Safe to Sleep bus, Parker thought for a moment.

I had kind of a jaded opinion about the homeless before,” she said finally. “The women I’ve got to know here really reinforce that it can happen to anyone.

With the bus full, Parker drove the women to Pathways United Methodist Church, the home of Safe to Sleep. There, the women would be able to eat, shower, charge their phones and sleep on a cot in the church’s gymnasium.

Nasby told me the volunteers aren’t required to bring dinner, but she and Solari always do. “Some of these women haven’t eaten all day,” Nasby said.

I followed the woman who sat by me on the bus, watching with worry as she slowly made her way to the back of the bus. Someone got her walker down from the storage area.

Several bags with her belongings were tied to the handlebars. I wondered how she managed to get from place to place during the day and how well she’d fare sleeping in a homeless camp or on the streets.

Safe to Sleep Director Romona Baker explained that’s been the rule since she started the shelter eight years ago. “We never felt like it was appropriate to ask the volunteers to clean up after the women,” Baker said.

“It is also a minor way for the women to participate and give back,” Baker continued. “So many come in and are thankful for being there at night.

They have never been in a shelter. They have no idea if they are going to be safe, how they will feel, what is going to happen.

While most of the women helped themselves to dinner or took a shower, a few immediately prepared their cots and laid down. One woman put down her suitcases in the middle of the gym floor, rolled out a sleeping bag and went right to sleep.

A gray-haired woman, who declined to give her name, welcomed me to Safe to Sleep and said she was delighted I’d be staying the night. She told me she was 68 and just three months ago was in a three-bedroom brick house with her husband.

Nearby, a dark-haired woman holding a small dog sat down. I asked if she would talk and she shook her head, pointing to her ear.

“I’m sorry.”. She didn’t seem to want me to leave, so I sat down and asked if she could read lips.

Her name was Julie Starbuck. Her dog, Emily, is a service animal and alerts her when someone is near — which is helpful when you are on the streets.

Starbuck said being able to stay at Safe to Sleep is “pretty awesome.”. “They feed you.

“I wish I knew about this place a long time ago.”. I asked the 51-year-old if she ever had to sleep outside.

It’s scary because I’m deaf and you can’t trust nobody,” she said. “Not fun.”.

I followed them out to a patio area with lawn chairs and a picnic table. Lyon, who is 23, said she wound up homeless after letting the wrong guy move into her apartment last year.

And I didn’t like it,” she said. At one point, he threatened to tie her to a chair in the basement, torture and then shoot her, she said.

So I did.”. Lyon said she now feels safe at Safe to Sleep and is ready to get her life back on track.

That is why Cruz came to Springfield from Mountain Home, Arkansas, she said. Her twins, a boy and a girl, will be 2 next month.

“I came up here so I can work on getting on my feet so I can take care of the kids,” she said, showing photos of her children on her cellphone. Cruz said there are more resources in Springfield than Mountain Home.

As we talked, I noticed Jett rubbing her belly. “I’m afraid the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck,” I heard her say.

I asked. “Yes.

The baby was conceived on the first of the year,” the 21-year-old told me. “It’s a boy.

Jett said she has been staying at Safe to Sleep off and on for about a year and a half. She doesn’t think she’ll have any trouble getting into housing when the baby comes.

It will leave me at ease,” she said. As I rolled my sleeping bag out onto a cot in the center of the gym, I noticed Alexandria Baysinger heading outside.

Baysinger, 24, told me that about two months ago, her disabled mother was put in a nursing home and her 6-year-old sister wound up in foster care. Baysinger wound up homeless.

Sometimes she eats lunch at the Salvation Army’s Harbor House. “It’s good they do that because if you are homeless and you don’t have anywhere to go, it’s hard to find somewhere to eat,” she said.

They are always making sure the homeless are taken care of.”. She has an appointment coming up with her case manager at Burrell Behavioral Health and also an appointment at Jordan Valley Community Health Clinic.

“I got a job application today and I’m going to fill that out. “I need to get my little sister back,” she continued.

She lit a cigarette and stared off into the darkness. “I hope it works out.

Back inside, women continued to trickle in. While most catch a ride on the Safe to Sleep bus, some walk or arrive via taxi or city bus.

when a woman in a wheelchair came through the church door, bags tied to the back of her chair. She seemed distraught, so I left her alone.

I sat down with volunteer Becky Solari, who was helping women sign in. “Some ladies come in at all hours of the night,” she explained, adding that several have jobs and work the late shift.

Women cannot just walk up to the church and come in for the night. They must go through One Door for an assessment and then be referred to Safe to Sleep.

By this time, most of the women had settled down for the night. Many had showered and were wearing pajamas.

Once the lights are off, there’s no talking. The ladies at the table headed for the door for one last smoke.

It was Lyon, the young woman I spoke with earlier, and a 50-year-old woman named Michelle, who declined to give her last name or be photographed. “I don’t mind talking,” Michelle told me.

For months, Nicholas Atencio and his girlfriend, Heather Surovik, spent nearly every minute of their lives together in a 2000 Cadillac Escalade.

“It’s hard when you don’t have the means to do that when you can’t do anything because you don’t have anything.”. Americans are being driven into their vehicles by COVID-19 pandemic-fueled woes.

“It’s in times of crisis that the fragility of our systems are laid bare,” said Graham Pruss, a postdoctoral scholar with the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco’s Center for Vulnerable Populations. COVID-19 ‘crisis within a crisis’:Homeless people are one of the most vulnerable populations yet largely invisible.

Even before COVID-19, millions struggled to afford a decent place to live. The pandemic has made the housing crisis even worse, says Pruss.

“We have seen more people moving into vehicles and more restrictions on public parking for them over the last decade, and then COVID hit,” Pruss said. “I am concerned that we may be facing a population increase in mobile sheltering and vehicle residence at unprecedented levels.”.

Homeless advocates say people without permanent housing are chronically undercounted. It’s even harder to track the tens of thousands of people living in their vehicles rather than on the streets or in shelters because they must move around so much.

Stimulus check help: Congress should lower top-income threshold for COVID-19 stimulus checks. Like with every measure of homelessness and poverty, people of color are disproportionately represented among vehicle dwellers as the pandemic exacerbates racial gaps in financial and housing security, she says.

Last year, a Housing and Urban Development report found that Black people make up nearly half of the homeless population, yet comprise only 13% of the population. “We call people living in vehicles the hidden homeless population,” said Joseph Zanovitch, executive director of HOPE Homeless Outreach in Longmont, Colorado.

Vehicles offer a greater degree of autonomy and privacy, not to mention protection from the elements. There’s also the comfort that comes with families staying together, including pets.

Not only that, the isolation of vehicle living has helped many escape the worst of the coronavirus, with infection rates so far lower than feared in the homeless population. Rusty old RVs and campers, the kinds seen lining city streets or stowed under overpasses, can be acquired for a few thousand dollars, but are not permitted in many RV parks.

They have no running water or electrical hookups, which can create tensions with neighbors who complain of dumped trash and sewage and scarce parking spots. Housing:RVs get new role as ‘quarantine and isolation housing’ and for homeless.

Violations can prove costly, even devastating. Parking tickets and towed vehicles can result in the loss of shelter and belongings, leaving people much more vulnerable than before and much less likely to recover financially.

Their ranks are also growing as more people use pandemic unemployment benefits to move out of tents and into vehicles, said Prado, a first-generation immigrant from Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico.

“A lot of people are having to come to those choices right now.”. Some private citizens have stepped in to help.

James Charles, general manager of Kiplin Automotive Group and his wife, Haydee, who have six children, said they empathized. Years ago, they, too, hit a hard stretch and were in and out of motels for several months.

COVID and homelessness:Transgender activists in the South are battling homelessness with tiny homes and private shelters amid COVID-19. Not only did James and Haydee Charles provide overnight shelter, they raised nearly $35,000 to secure a more stable living situation for more than two dozen homeless families and individuals through their organization, HALO Now, (Helping and Leading Others Now).

Charles says he got the idea from California and Washington state where churches, nonprofits and local governments have stepped into the breach, creating overnight parking lots with portable toilets and showers and caseworkers to help secure permanent housing. Kristine Schwarz is the executive director of the New Beginnings Counseling Center, which hosts the Santa Barbara Safe Parking Program.

Because of the way stimulus and other funds are allocated, many nonprofits like hers are ineligible for assistance, Schwarz says. “Limiting funding for agencies like ours, on top of the increasing number of folks needing assistance – in particular those with more severe mental health issues – is going to have a significant impact on our ability to provide the essential and critical services for our community,” she said.

There is simply not enough financial support to go around.”. It’s the same story across the country in Rhode Island, where resources are being stretched thinner than ever by COVID-19.

Caitlin Frumerie, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, says the state has more than double the number of people experiencing homelessness than last year, some of whom have moved into their vehicles.

In Longmont, the safe parking lot program has been a godsend for homeless families, Zanovitch says. With a long waiting list, the SafeLot program in Longmont has grown since opening in June.

It has helped find housing for 11 people from seven households and in the coming months, will expand to Boulder. Two years ago when Atencio and Surovik ended up in their car during another rough patch, they had to scrape the morning frost from the interior of the windows.

Today, they are counting their blessings. Right before the holidays, Surovik was hired at HOPE Homeless Outreach and she and Atencio moved into an apartment where her son has his own room and they could celebrate Christmas as a family.

“I just love my job,” Surovik said. “It’s a humbling experience to be the one to hand out a coat, a pair of shoes, or a hot sandwich.”.

People are sleeping in cars in pretty much every country worldwide. In fact, not only is vehicular homelessness common for many people in some period of their lives but sleeping in your car is even becoming more common than ever.

Before looking at whether it’s legal to sleep in your car, let’s understand why one would do so. This stems from general homelessness, which has a range of causes.

Many cities have specific laws against sleeping in your car. It is illegal to sleep in your vehicle in any city which prohibits it.

If you are drunk while asleep in your car, you could find yourself in trouble. Regardless of your state, you could get a DUI even if you’re not driving in that state.

Some cities allow you to doze off in rest areas for a few hours. Campground and truck stops are ideal locations, too.

If you can get permission, you can always sleep on someone’s private property. You may find more about your particular state’s stance here.

While it can be a convenient option, it can be stressful, too. Thus, it’s essential to know how safe it is and whether you should do it.

Your car can’t offer you the same level of security as your own house. The car is far more exposed and has fewer locks.

Even if you do lock up your car, someone would have an excellent chance of breaking into it. There is only so much protection your windows and doors can offer, after all.

Some are much safer than others, and you would be better off sleeping over there. Any area with high crime rates is one you must avoid at all costs.

To find the right place for yourself, you may check online crime maps. You may even ask around for safe regions for sleeping in your car.

Leaving your engine running while you are sleeping is unwise and risky. This is especially true if the carbon monoxide levels start rising, and you are in an enclosed place.

Malfunctions within the car can also contribute to this occurrence. Opening your SUV’s tailgate with closed vents ends up increasing monoxide levels, too.

Sleeping in your car can give you terrible back or neck issues. Not only does that ruin your posture, but it also hurts a lot.

Over time, these problems can compound into something hazardous for your body. Sleeping in your car isn’t exactly the best way to ensure proper hygiene.

But, there are ways in which you can get a decent shower now and then. The best way to ensure a bath for yourself would be to park in a place with showers.

Your best bet here is private campgrounds, which often feature shower buildings. Be ready with some extra cash though, because these places won’t be as cheap as a Walmart parking ground.

If you don’t feel like spending the night in a campground, that’s all right. Some campsites are generous enough to allow you to use their showers, regardless.

Beyond campgrounds, do consider gyms and local beaches. These spots almost always have showers that you can use.

Beaches don’t have this issue though, and you can clean up over there without paying a penny. Sleeping in your car is never easy.

There are things that you can do to make the night more bearable though. From making a cozy bed to knowing where to park, here are eight tips that can help you in the process.

You can avoid that by trying to make as comfy and warm a bed as you can. An excellent way to achieve this is by laying the rear seats flat and using a sleeping bag to make a proper bed.

Every night in your car is a very long night. Make sure you have some entertainment options at hand.

This is super dangerous and thus not advisable at all. A running engine can increase the levels of carbon monoxide around you.

Adequate ventilation is essential. Open the front two passenger windows a bit to ensure that some air comes in.

Your homelessness should not deprive you of your right to privacy. You may use a hanging material to cover your front and rear windows.

Know where to park your car. It might sound frustrating, but state laws will determine if you can sleep in your car somewhere or not.

You will thank yourself for avoiding fines or possible imprisonment. Take the time to shower and relieve yourself before you go to sleep.

But in case you don’t, it is best to take care of your bathroom needs in advance however you can. Life is even more uncertain when you are spending your nights in a car.

Thus, it is wise to plan out the next day before you hit the sack. Set an early alarm.

Make a list of three things you want to do the next day. This will give you something to look forward to when you wake up.

It is easier said than done. But, it is not impossible.

Keep them close, for they will help you when things get unbearable. Even if you are a lone wolf, things don’t have to be so bleak.

Try to be as proactive as possible. Maximize your safety using what you’ve learned.

Last Updated on May 14, 2021 by mountainswithmegan. This is the eighth full month that I’ve been living out of my car, and what a crazy experience it’s been.

Before I do that though, I thought I would share the pearls of wisdom I’ve acquired during my months in my home on wheels. If you’re thinking about living in a car by choice, then read on.

This is a valid question, and everyone will likely have a different set of reasons. I’ll share my personal rationale with the hopes that you can discover your own.

Get a set up that you like. One of the main purposes of living in your car is to save money, so don’t go buy a new Sprinter van.

So you have a small car. Can you take out the back seats or open the trunk up to the front.

If you have a truck, then get a camper cover so you can live out of the back. If you have a SUV (like me) just fold the backseats forward.

You can sleep on top of it and have extra storage space below. I never built one because I don’t have tools for it or much know how.

Platforms usually stop you from being able to do that.

I just use the same inflatable sleeping pad that I use for backpacking and camping. Another good option is to buy a memory foam pad.

You will probably want some aspect of privacy while your sleeping and hanging out in the car. One suggestion is to sew your own curtains.

The whole project just took and hour or so. They are by far the best and most useful personal touch I’ve made to my car.

While you probably don’t want to keep every piece of memorabilia in your car with you, one or two things won’t hurt. I have a t-shirt quilt that I made myself and my childhood teddy bear that I keep by my sleeping spot.

Just a few personal touches will really help it feel like your own space. One of my favorite small things I have is a solar lantern.

My lantern is just a small, inexpensive touch that makes me happy.

I’m honestly not too great about cooking for myself while I live in my car. I usually just go to the grocery store and buy salads and sandwiches.

However, I have car-dweller friends who love to cook and don’t let living in a vehicle hold them back. I’ve seen cooking set ups that are complete with a two-burner Coleman stove, cast iron pans, and a Yeti cooler.

If you want to cook for yourself, you can definitely make it happen.

My membership is $35 a month, and I also work out while I’m there. But that would be a lot if I was only going there to shower.

I have a friend who lives out of her car in Durango, Colorado , and she keeps a punch pass for the YMCA. It’s $4 a punch, which is an entrance fee to use anything essentially.

Then it’s worth the $4. If you’re on the road a lot, then you won’t have the luxury of a gym membership.

Keep change in your car and find a shower a few times a week (or less, if that’s your style). Keep a gallon of water in your car for brushing your teeth, washing your face, and drinking.

I keep baby wipes and a trash bag on hand for this purpose. As far as when you gotta do more than just pee, get used to using public restrooms for this purpose.

You can even plan your campsites around where there will be restrooms. Lots of trail heads and parks have them available.

This is an easy one: go to the laundromat. I don’t have a lot of clothes and I’ll wear the same outfit a few times before washing it, so I usually only have to do laundry every other week.

Also, I like Tide Pods for detergent. They’re more expensive, but it’s worth it because they don’t take up much space and I wouldn’t want detergent to spill in my car.

For wifi, I like to utilize the public library. Everybody always seems to forget that those exist, but I go there all the time.

They generally have really fast wifi and the employees don’t seem to care in the least bit if you only order one coffee and stay there for five hours. If you need to use lots of internet for work or school, you could get an unlimited data plan and just hotspot with your phone.

Sometimes I like to download a TV show during the day, charge my laptop up, and watch it at night at my campsite. I have some van dwellers friends who used to park beside the grocery store, stream shows with the grocery store wifi at night, then drive somewhere else when they were ready for sleep.

Perhaps the biggest concern while living in your car is where to sleep. One of my favorite resources is freecampsites.net.

Sometimes it’s hit or miss, but I’ve found a lot of really great campsites via that website. Most Wal-Marts will let weary travelers sleep in their parking lots for a night.

You don’t want the police knocking on your window. I try to avoid sleeping at rest stops when I’m alone (which is most of the time) since they are typically right off of the interstate and countless cars come and go all night.

This is interesting and challenging because you can establish more creature comforts, but you have to stay on your toes. As far as sleeping goes, put effort into finding a few spots where you can sleep overnight legally.

Bonus points if any of the locations have bathrooms. Since southern Utah is my actual home, I have more belongings than I would if I was just road tripping for a few months.

This is too much stuff to comfortably keep in my car, so I also have a storage unit for $30 a month.

For these occasions I have a PO Box, which costs $30 for six months. Not a bad deal.

Make sure your car insurance is up-to-date and you have all the important documents on hand. I mostly camp in the middle-of-nowhere Utah, so I’ve never had a problem with police (I am a conventional-looking white girl, so there’s probably some privilege involved there).

Throw away empty alcohol containers immediately. Don’t keep illegal drugs in your car.

Even though this is a cheaper than normal lifestyle, it’s still not free. You will need some money to put gas in the tank and pay for essentials.

If you want to travel around, I would recommend doing seasonal work. I wrote an entire guide to seasonal jobs that you can read.

Don’t think it’s just for 20 year olds either. I’ve met people of all ages and all walks of life while working seasonal jobs.

I would recommend watching the movie Nomadland. I found it to be a very realistic portrayal of what living in a car and working seasonally is actually like.

Most of the characters are 50+ years old, which I found to be refreshing. This lifestyle isn’t just for bright-eyed, young folks living an Instagram-worthy life.

I know lots of people living in their car do remote jobs as well. I don’t have experience with this and can’t really give advice on that topic.

Here are some of the things I like to keep on hand while living in my car. You might find some of them useful as well or you might not be into any of them.

It’s easy to get burnt out on this lifestyle. It’s not all Instagram photos and freedom.

I felt the most down on myself when my car was having problems and I had to take it to the shop. I ended up on my friend’s couch for three days while I waited for it to be fixed, stressed.

Toddler Selena Rivera, held by her mother, Bertha, looks out the car window before her father, Manual, covers it with a blanket for the night. The Rivera family lives in their car and parks it overnight at the Jewish Family Service of San Diego.

Naomi Lender hits the trunk of her 2000 Ford Taurus with her fist. It pops up to reveal everything she and her teenaged son Amram will need in the next few days: an electric kettle — for something warm to drink in the morning — a water filter, to purify the water they get from a hose, and bags of food and clothes.

As office workers leave the nonprofit’s complex to head home for the day, Lender and the others settle into the parking lot to spend the night in their cars, part of a safe parking program run by the nonprofit Dreams for Change. Registered clients are allowed in at 6 p.m., and on a Thursday evening last winter, John Frawley is the first to arrive, followed by two older women.

They spend the night here in their cars, but must leave early the next morning. By 6:30 p.m., there is a line for the outdoor microwave, and most of the spaces on the extension cord next to it have mobile phones plugged into them.

The shower and microwave are available only for a few hours. When Lender shows up with her fish sticks, there is already a line for the microwave.

“Everything is a shared experience,” Lender says with a laugh. She is 5 feet 4 inches, with dark curly hair and a small butterfly sticker on the lower right lens of her glasses.

It has been a month and a half since Lender, who’s in her mid-40s, and Amram started sleeping in the parking lot. When they lived indoors they would watch TV in the evenings.

“This is like a little neighborhood,” Amram says. “Each of our cars are like our houses.”.

“You’re not really supposed to peek into anyone else’s car,” he says, “because it’s disrespectful and they might be doing something private.”. The idea to create a place where people could safely sleep in their cars came to Dreams for Change founder Teresa Smith during the 2008 economic downturn.

“They just weren’t these generational poverty-type families,” she says. Instead, they were families and individuals who had lost their jobs, their homes and savings during the recession.

When sent to shelters they would come back and tell Smith: “I’d rather stay in my car.” So Smith started trying to figure out a way for them to do that. It’s something that Megan Hustings, interim director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, has been seeing more of in recent years, especially on the West Coast, where having a car is all but essential.

“There are a lot of cities, communities, that will ticket unnecessarily,” Hustings says. Which is why the safe parking programs are important.

The idea behind the Dream for Change’s Safe Parking Program is to set up parking lots where people can safely sleep in their cars. Dreams for Change provides staff to check people in for the night, make sure things are running smoothly and counsel participants in an effort to get them back into regular housing.

Dreams for Change also pays for port-a-potties. The annual budget for two sites is around $55,000, which comes from private donations.

Smith opened her first overnight space in a church parking lot in 2010. While she tries to keep the locations of the overnight lots consistent, that isn’t always possible.

The local government at another spot kept imposing fines that would have cost Dreams for Change too much to fight. Smith had to temporarily close another site when things got chaotic after she let in too many people.

The money came after a deadly Hepatitis A outbreak forced the city to reassess how it deals with its homeless population. Because JFS sees the Dreams for Change program as complementary to its social mission, the organization does not charge Dreams for Change for use of the lot.

In all, Dreams for Change now has 150 spaces at three locations (120 of them funded by the city), which left 1,112 of the 1,262 people that the annual Point-In-Time Count for San Diego County found living in their vehicles in San Diego on a single night in 2018 without a safe place to park. In all, for the one January night that was counted, there were 8,576 homeless individuals in San Diego County, 4,990 of them unsheltered.

Smith and Hustings believe that lack of affordable housing is now a bigger problem than economic conditions in making people homeless. In San Diego for the past two decades, older affordable housing units have been razed to make room for new development, says Chris Ward, a San Diego City Council member who is vice-chair of the county’s Regional Task Force on the Homeless.

“But we’re building just enough to be able to replace the affordable housing that we tore down.” And not enough to account for population growth, he says. The apartment vacancy rate in San Diego is about 4 percent, according to the San Diego County Apartment Association, making it difficult for tenants to find a new place before they lose their old one.

Naomi Lender is seated at an outside table, a new batch of fish sticks in front of her. She texts Amram, who has gone off to the car: “Eat more now.

Amram returns a few minutes later. At school, he says other kids ask him a few times a week if it’s true he sleeps in a car.

He keeps a toy robot, a phone charger and drawings from art class — “the stuff I’d normally put on a desk” — on the ledge below the back window. He is a smart kid, a year ahead in math and a decent chess player.

His mom sleeps in the front passenger seat. “At least it hasn’t been like this for my entire life,” Amram says.

But her older brother David Goldberg explains in a phone call that it was not divorce so much as Lender refusing to take responsibility for her own life that got her into trouble. “My little sister always seemed to get everyone else to do stuff for her,” he says.

During those two years, Goldberg says Lender lost food and financial benefits because she failed to fill out required paperwork. When their father’s health declined further, Goldberg moved him to his home.

“I did not want to see her do that,” says Goldberg, a vice president at a San Diego manufacturing company. “But I just had a sense that she needed to reach a particular level where she had to take care of herself.”.

“So we’ll either be dead …”. Kathy Jones doesn’t finish her sentence.

A self-employed industrial mechanic, he didn’t have health insurance when he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a handful of other ailments. The medical bills added up and, in a few years, Jones says, she lost both her husband and the house they had lived in for 38 years.

Many of the people residing in the lot store what they don’t currently need: the couches, the desks, the pots and pans, everything that once made up a home. They keep what they need now, like the hangers of clothes Jones suspends from the grab handle in the backseat of her 2000 Toyota Corolla.

Jones has been living here about five months. She was quick to greet Tom and Diane Roe when they arrived.

Karla Finocchio’s slide into homelessness began when she split with her partner of 18 years and temporarily moved in with a cousin. The 55-year-old planned to use her $800-a-month disability check to get an apartment after back surgery.

Finocchio is one face of America’s graying homeless population, a rapidly expanding group of destitute and desperate people 50 and older suddenly without a permanent home after a job loss, divorce, family death or health crisis during a pandemic. “We’re seeing a huge boom in senior homelessness,” said Kendra Hendry, a caseworker at Arizona’s largest shelter, where older people make up about 30% of those staying there.

They are people being pushed into the streets by rising rents.”. Academics project their numbers will nearly triple over the next decade, challenging policymakers from Los Angeles to New York to imagine new ideas for sheltering the last of the baby boomers as they get older, sicker and less able to pay spiraling rents.

Navigating sidewalks in wheelchairs and walkers, the aging homeless have medical ages greater than their years, with mobility, cognitive and chronic problems like diabetes. Many contracted COVID-19 or couldn’t work because of pandemic restrictions.

“I don’t want to be on the street in a wheelchair and living in a tent.”. It was Finocchio’s first time being homeless.

Vincent de Paul runs in Phoenix for people 50 and up seeking permanent housing. At the 60-bed shelter, Finocchio sleeps in a college-style women’s dorm, with a single bed and small desk where she displays Scrappy’s photo.

A stroke started 67-year-old Army veteran Lovia Primous on his downward spiral, costing him his job and forcing him to sleep in his Honda Accord. He was referred to the transitional shelter after recovering from COVID-19.

“I’m just trying to stay positive.”. Cardelia Corley ended up on the streets of Los Angeles County after the hours at her telemarketing job were cut.

“I’d always worked, been successful, put my kid through college,” the single mother said. “And then all of a sudden things went downhill.”.

“And then I would go to Union Station downtown and wash up in the bathroom,” said Corley. She recently moved into a small East Hollywood apartment with help from The People Concern, a Los Angeles nonprofit.

Department of Housing and Urban Development said in its 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report the share of homeless people 50 and over in emergency shelters or transitional housing jumped from 22.9% in 2007 to 33.8% in 2017. More precise and recent nationwide figures aren’t available because HUD has since changed the methodology in the reports and lumps older people in with all adults over 25.

population of people 65 and older experiencing homelessness will nearly triple from 40,000 to 106,000 by 2030, resulting in a public health crisis as their age-related medical problems multiply. Dr.

are on the streets for the first time. “We are seeing that retirement is no longer the golden dream,” said Kushel.

That’s especially true of younger baby boomers, now in their late 50s to late 60s, who don’t have pensions or 401(k) accounts. About half of both women and men ages 55 to 66 have no retirement savings, according to the census.

With the oldest boomers in their mid-70s, all will hit age 65 by 2030. The aged homeless also tend to have smaller Social Security checks after years working off the books.

Teresa Smith, CEO of the San Diego nonprofit Dreams for Change, said she’s also noticed the homeless population is trending older. The group operates two safe parking lots for people living in cars.

The 63-year-old had kidney cancer while caring for her mother, then lost their two-bedroom apartment after her mom died. The cancer is now in remission.

She was stunned to see a man in his 80s living in a car there, calling it “just wrong.”. But residents enjoyed the community, grilling meals together and even surprising one in their group with a birthday cake.

With a washer and dryer, patio, dishwasher and bathtub, “I feel like I’m at the Ritz,” she said. Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the Washington-based advocacy group National Coalition for the Homeless, said that seeing older people sleep in cars and abandoned buildings should worry everyone.

Whitehead said Black, Latino and Indigenous people who came of age in the 1980s amid recession and high unemployment rates are disproportionately represented among the homeless. Many nearing retirement never got well-paying jobs and didn’t buy homes because of discriminatory real estate practices.

The average monthly Social Security retirement payment as of December was $1,658. Many older homeless people have much smaller checks because they worked fewer years or earned less than others.

Finocchio said limited contributions were made for her into Social Security and Medicare because most of her jobs were off the books in telephone sales or watering office plants. “The programs approved by Congress to prevent destitution among the elderly and the disabled are not working,” said Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania professor who led the 2019 study of the aging homeless in New York, Boston and Los Angeles County.

Jennifer Molinsky, project director for the Aging Society Program at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, agreed the federal government must do more to ensure older Americans are better housed. “The younger boomers were hit especially hard in the Great Recession, many losing their homes close to retirement,” Molinsky said.

The Arizona Department of Housing last year provided a $7.5 million block grant for the state’s largest shelter to buy an old hotel to temporarily house up to 170 older people without a place to stay. The city of Phoenix kicked in $4 million for renovations.

Residents will stay around 90 days while caseworkers help find permanent housing. “We need more dignified, safer and comfortable places for our seniors,” said Glow, noting that physical limitations make it difficult for older people at the 500-bed shelter downtown.

Castro was in his late 50s living in New York when his mother died and he was hospitalized with bleeding ulcers, losing their apartment. He initially stayed with his sister in Boston, then for more than three years at a YMCA in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Residents pay 30% of their income to stay in one if Hearth’s 228 units. Castro pays with part of his Social Security check and a part-time job.

“Housing is a big problem around here because they are building luxury apartments that no one can afford,” he said. “A place down the street is $3,068 a month for a studio.”.

As police cracked down on people living in RVs, vans and cars with expired registrations last week, many of the vehicle occupants said they would have parked in one of the city’s lots designated for homeless people if only it were open 24 hours. They may get their wish in a few months.

San Diego funds three safe parking lots, the term for parking lots for homeless people who live in vehicles, and the Mission Valley location on Mission Village Drive was the only one to allow recreational vehicles. The total cost of all three lots in the new fiscal year will be $1.4 million, with $444,000 from Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funds going toward the expanded hours.

It would be the second one in North County, with an Encinitas lot already operating. The Mission Valley lot opened in June 2019, and it soon became apparent that RV dwellers were avoiding the lot.

Jewish Family Service Chief of Staff Chris Olsen said last week that the lot has an average of 70 vehicles, including just eight RVs. The number of RVs increases to about 17 during the winter, he said.

and could not return until 6 p.m. Having little money to operate their gas-guzzling vehicles, many opted to take their chance parking on city streets in violation of the city’s oversized vehicle ordinance prohibiting RVs from parking on public streets from 2-6 a.m.

Stacey Livingstone, a UC San Diego doctoral candidate in sociology who worked on the study, told council members that 180 people were interviewed in the study, and it was resoundingly clear that a 24-hour safe parking lot was desired. Olsen said the conversion to 24-hour service will require adding more security and case workers, and he expected the transition could be complete by the end of summer.

In the same week as the City Council voted to expand the parking lot’s hours, the city began cracking down on encampments and oversized vehicles on Pacific Highway and Anna Avenue, which runs parallel to the highway in an industrial area just north of Old Town. “They towed my bus.

Palmar said as he walked up to where he had parked his 1969 Volkswagen Westfalia van Wednesday morning. “But it had handicap plates on it.

Palmer said he had been away that morning working on an RV he parks at a lot near SeaWorld, but others on Anna Avenue told him they saw his van towed away. He was irate and didn’t want to talk much, but before catching a ride back to his RV he said he was 87 and had been homeless eight years.

That’s not always the case.

An officer noticed the tags had expired on their 1995 Mercury Villager van and approached the couple. Barber said they were told to get out, and the van was towed to an impound yard.

Barber estimates the cost in the past week had increased to $1,000, and more costs would follow if he were to take it to a garage for repairs so it would pass a smog test. He knew about the city’s safe lots, but said his wife had never wanted to go to one.

“If that didn’t exist, we probably would have been all right.”. Jerrod Starbird, 48, has been homeless two years and until Wednesday had been living in a trailer attached to a 1981 Chevy Titan RV parked on Anna Avenue.

While he would not be towed that morning, he had been given a 72-hour notice to move from the street. His car was towed a month ago, and Starbird said he just received a notice that it would be auctioned if he didn’t pay a $1,500 impound fee.

“I’d go in one of the lots, but I can’t get in because of my registration,” he said about city’s safe parking lots. Olsen, however, said there is a place for him at a Jewish Family Service lot.

Jewish Family Service also will help people bring their registration up to date, he added. Leon Qiyam Pogue, a 65-year-old Army vet, is living in a Scion and tent on Anna Avenue and said he watched a VW bus and RV towed that morning,.

“If they would have taken this car or impounded that tent, we’d be literally on the street, my wife and I and my dog. “I talked to the officer and I said, ‘Why are you destroying people’s lives.

“And he said, ‘Look, I’ve got a job to do.’ I said, ‘Does it bother you that you’re destroying someone’s life. ’ It’s kind of heartless.

We’re not committing crimes. We’re struggling.”.

Maya Reynolds, 58, has been homeless three years and has a 2003 Mercedes SUV and a 1984 Dodge van on Anna Avenue. She said she had been living in a trailer, but one day an officer approached her and forced her out so it could be impounded for lapsed registration.

She has heard of safe parking lots, but has not wanted to go to one. “They do not work, she said.

I would go to them if they were open 24 hours.”. The UC San Diego study found most households served in the safe parking programs are made up of adults only, but 20 percent are families with children.

Almost 70 percent of participants said they were experiencing homelessness for the first time, and about 44 percent had been homeless for just a month. Only 15 percent of the clients reported having a mental health issue compared to 26 percent of the general homeless population.

The program served 850 people from July 1, 2021, until April 30.

1, 2019, and Nov. 30, 2020, the UC San Diego study found about 18 percent of clients left the program for permanent or temporary housing.

Over one six-month period, nearly one-third exited to permanent or temporary housing, including shelters, the study found. During Monday’s meeting, Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera asked the council to direct city staff to return before Sept.

SAN DIEGO — Standing near a row of blooming lemon trees, Ester Cruz and Richard Stanich watched their 2-year-old son race his plastic, giraffe-shaped tricycle through the parking lot as he tried to keep up with bigger boys on bikes. Nearby, a woman walked her dog and another sat in a lawn chair, smoking a cigarette.

Like Seattle and other cities up and down the West Coast, where home prices and rents are soaring, San Diego is experiencing a growing homelessness crisis. And like Seattle and King County, one-fifth of San Diego County’s homeless population lives in their vehicles.

On average, San Diego has gotten 43 percent of clients like Cruz and Stanich into housing every year. In Seattle, at the peak of its faltering program, just over one in 10 got housed.

The success of San Diego’s program, run by the nonprofit Dreams for Change, may largely stem from what the program doesn’t do. It does not allow people living in RVs.

And until recently, most of the clients were experiencing homelessness for the first time.

In the current version, which the city of Seattle has dubbed a “safe zone,” the residents live in a pothole-filled unfenced lot in the Sodo industrial district. They all live in RVs that never have to move, and are all chronically homeless.

In Seattle, a case worker visits once a week. in San Diego, case workers are there every night.

But so far this year, only one person from the lot has been housed. Replicating the San Diego program in Seattle could be a challenge because it is not illegal to live in one’s vehicle in Seattle.

And while Seattle’s safe-lot program is on its last legs, San Diego’s program now provides a safe place to sleep for more than 200 people every night, with a long waiting list for spots.

They preferred living in their cars rather than shelters, but there were no designated parking spaces where they could go. So she created a new nonprofit, Dreams for Change, to deliver services to a large number of vehicle campers while fostering a sense of community.

The funding followed a hepatitis A outbreak in California that killed at least 20, most of them living outside and not in vehicles.

Case managers are on site at all three locations for several hours every night. Clients stay in the program an average of 157 days, a little more than five months.

They can begin arriving around 6 p.m., after JFS employees leave for the day. As of late March, about 70 adults and 33 children stayed there.

Clients have to pitch in on chores.

At the JFS lot, there is a patio off a community room that clients can use for a few hours every night to eat meals, congregate or meet with their case managers. The addition of city dollars means there are now housing specialists on site.

Even with their jobs, the couple still can’t afford an apartment here. Both from San Diego, they briefly lived in a relative’s garage, sleeping on an air mattress, until neighbors complained.

On a recent evening, Cruz changed her toddler son’s diaper in the back of the couple’s Jeep Grand Cherokee, which she has dubbed the “She Hulk,” while Stanich polished their second car, a Toyota Corolla, preparing for a night driving for Uber. He fastidiously keeps their vehicles and the space around them clean.

She nursed her son to sleep by the harsh green glow of a portable light. “He doesn’t exactly know what’s going on,” Cruz said.

shift at Starbucks. Instead of getting ready for work in a bathroom, she does her makeup by the light of the car’s visor mirror, while her toddler sleeps to lullabies she plays on her smartphone.

By 10 p.m., the lot was mostly quiet, because clients can’t run their vehicles at night. Soon, the only sign of activity was the glow of cellphone screens through the vehicle windows.

More than 200 miles up the Pacific Coast, in a city so opulent it’s often known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara takes a very different approach from San Diego to homeless vehicle camping, but still has had better results than Seattle. A high of 22 percent of clients made it into housing in 2016, but as few as 13.6 percent the year before.

The program has been around since 2004 and is considered one of the longest-running in the country. Most of the clients are seniors or working adults and, as in San Diego, the program is overnight only.

The model slightly resembles an idea floated by Seattle Councilmember Mike O’Brien last year, to create 40 to 50 small safe parking zones across the city. He also proposed that people in the program could be exempt from certain parking laws.

Although there is a strong philanthropic spirit in Santa Barbara, there’s also a strong “not-in-my-backyard” mentality, said Cassie Roach, program coordinator for New Beginnings Counseling Center, the nonprofit that runs the safe-lot program. So the lots are designed to draw little attention.

All the locations are confidential. Each lot in the program belongs to a different property owner, both private and public, including some city and county properties.

The Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center, a local hardware store, sets aside one of its 87 parking spaces for the vehicle camping program and has not had problems, said Michael Owens, the store operations manager. “It just seems like an easy way to try to help somebody who is struggling,” Owens said.

There are no lawn chairs set near lemon trees, as there are in the San Diego program. ”We don’t want people to become too complacent,” Roach said.

We don’t want to set up a campground. It’s supposed to be a safe place to sleep.”.

By 7 a.m. in the San Diego lots, every one of the Dreams for Change cars will be gone.

“The best way to help them along is to say, you can’t stay here,” Smith said. But that puts many clients in a difficult position, especially if they don’t have a job or somewhere else to go.

One mother and her 14-year-old son go to the public library after he’s done with school, waiting for the safe lot to open. One recent morning, Cruz and Stanich met under a busy highway to organize their possessions, camping gear, toys and essentials.

A California Department of Transportation worker pulled up. This was state right of way, he told them.

“You can’t hang here,” the worker said. He’d let it go, for now.

There are bigger inconveniences. The previous day, Stanich had his wisdom teeth pulled.

If you need knowledge, read a book. If you want to really know something, experience is the best teacher.

The best advice comes from people who have actually done it for more than just a week or two.For those who are doing this by choice, before taking the plunge, if you have time, try living in your car or van for a week or two. There’s no better test than to try out in reality what you’ve imagined only in theory.

If you are a woman, learn about to female-specific car-living-things that you should know here. Since 2017, homelessness has been on the rise, with an overall increase of 6 percent.

The following graph from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development breaks this down for us.

No matter how you look at it, living in your car is going to be a challenge. Your vehicle must provide shelter from the weather, lodging, kitchen and eating facilities, and, of course, transportation.

These suggestions help you more readily meet that challenge. If there’s even a chance that you may be living in your car, being prepared is essential.

Could you and everyone in your home, pets included, get out fast when it matters most. Have you thought ahead to where you would go and do you have some funds set aside to pay for meals.

Here’s an assignment that you can do together as a family this week. See how close you are to doing it within 30 minutes.

Have you thought of the different ways to get out of your town. If your usual road is flooded, and your second choice is destroyed, how do you leave.

Read about how to plan to safely evacuate your town. Don’t think you are depression-proof.

You won’t be disappointed. Living hand to mouth eventually gives you a can-do attitude that can be a lifesaver.

This post was originally published on February 17, 2011, and has been updated.

After a night of drinking, you may think it is a good idea to avoid drunk driving by sleeping it off in your car for a few hours. Unfortunately, you can still be arrested for a DUI in Ohio for doing such a thing.

Developing an effective defense strategy is based on the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Before we delve into the specifics of car sleeping as they pertain to DUI arrests, it’s important to know what the law says regarding the legality of sleeping in one’s car.

In Ohio, like many other states, the laws pertaining to sleeping in your car vary depending on where the vehicle is parked. If the car is parked on private property with the property owner’s consent, then sleeping in the vehicle is generally legal.

If the officer believes that the person is homeless or in need of assistance, they may refer them to local services that can provide help. DUI laws in Ohio prohibit the “operation” of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

rather, the officer can use circumstantial evidence to establish the operation of the vehicle. Circumstantial evidence that may prove a DUI suspect was driving includes the following:

In order to successfully avoid a conviction, you must make it difficult for police officers and prosecutors to prove you were operating the vehicle. You could do so by sleeping in the backseat, storing the keys in the glove compartment or trunk (i.e.

A concern that often arises is whether an individual can be charged with a DUI for sleeping in the passenger’s seat of a vehicle. In Ohio, the law generally focuses on whether an individual has “physical control” over the vehicle, not solely on whether they are occupying the driver’s seat.

While this definition primarily targets those in the driver’s seat, there can be circumstances where a person in the passenger’s seat might still be considered in physical control. If the keys are within reach and there is evidence that the individual in the passenger’s seat recently operated the vehicle while under the influence, there might be grounds for a DUI investigation.

Law enforcement officers may use their discretion in assessing the situation. If an officer suspects that the individual in the passenger’s seat was driving under the influence before moving to the passenger’s seat to sleep, an investigation may ensue.

The assistance of an experienced attorney can be invaluable in navigating the intricacies of Ohio law and building a robust defense. Here’s how a lawyer can help:

An experienced DUI lawyer will have an in-depth understanding of the specific laws and regulations that apply to your case and can interpret how those laws might apply to the unique circumstances of sleeping in your car. A lawyer will thoroughly evaluate all evidence, including police reports, breathalyzer results, witness statements, and any other relevant information.

Based on the evidence and the specific situation, an attorney can craft a tailored defense strategy. This might include arguing that you didn’t have physical control of the vehicle, challenging the validity of sobriety tests, or questioning the legality of the stop or arrest.

Should your case go to trial, a skilled DUI lawyer will present your defense in court, cross-examine witnesses, and argue on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome. The legal process of a DUI charge can be confusing and stressful.

At Patituce & Associates, we recommend that you avoid being in this situation by either getting a ride from a designated driver or requesting a ride through Uber or Lyft. If an officer cannot arrest you for DUI, he or she may still charge you with physical control and possibly impound your vehicle.

Electric vehicles: What are some of the hidden costs. Alaska Airlines again grounds all Boeing 737 Max … The US sees a drop in illegal border crossings after … WWII-era munitions found in dumping site off CA coast Wind gusts topple tree, cause hundreds of power outages Young Palestinian girl killed when Israeli police … Saturday “Gayle on the Go.

Electric vehicles: What are some of the hidden costs.

Alaska Airlines again grounds all Boeing 737 Max ….

The US sees a drop in illegal border crossings after ….

WWII-era munitions found in dumping site off CA coast.

Wind gusts topple tree, cause hundreds of power outages.

Young Palestinian girl killed when Israeli police ….

Saturday “Gayle on the Go. ”, Saturday, January 6th, ….

Winter storms dump snow on both US coasts as icy ….

More Stories.

For some, living in a camper van and traveling the US on the open road may seem a dream-like lifestyle, but for others, it is an unwelcome reality.

These people typically fill their new homes on wheels with luxury amenities like full bathrooms, full kitchens, and projector screens to watch TV.

Like vanlifers, these houseless Americans live in their vehicles and travel the open road, but they’re doing it involuntarily and facing the dangers of the lifestyle without any of the luxuries.

He’s called his 2005 Chrysler Town and Country van his home since April 2019. According to Slocum, a neighborly dispute forced him out of his living situation, and he moved into his car indefinitely.

With no other options, Slocum has made a home for himself in the back of his car.

He placed a mattress in the back of the car so that he would have a bed and a place to lay down. Slocum then built shelves to store most of his belongings and created a makeshift kitchen with an oven.

“If you take a deep breath, slow down, think creatively, and [do one] task at a time, you can survive,” Slocum told Insider. “Anyone can learn this stuff.

When the temperature drops, he doesn’t have a battery-run heater like some vanlifers do. He bundles up and hopes the insulation and the small space heater will keep him warm.

Slocum said his lifestyle is a great way to stay in the upstate New York area so he can be close to his doctors without paying rent. To do so, he spends a couple of nights in various parking lots in the Batavia area and then moves on to another parking lot.

“I love being able to just get up and go,” Slocum said. “It’s the freedom of being able to go and not worry about your home.”.

He uses a plastic bag when he needs to go to the bathroom, and he uses body wipes to clean himself because there is no shower.

“When I go out shopping and think that somebody might smell me, I don’t like that.”. Additionally, Slocum can’t stand up or really move around in the van, so he spends the majority of his time lying down or crawling.

He suffered a heart attack in early 2020, and now he struggles to maintain a healthy diet while living this lifestyle. Despite the hardships of life in a vehicle, Slocum often repeats his mantra: “Life is an adventure.”.

In fact, the number of homeless people in the US increased 2.7% from 2018 to 2019 — bringing the total number to 567,715 people — according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Although there isn’t much data from 2020, Roman said the number has generally been rising since 2016.

During the pandemic, at a time when many Americans’ have felt greater financial stress than ever before, Roman said many shelters had to reduce the number of beds in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines. This led some homeless people to seek shelter in vehicles if they had the option.

“[Living in a car] certainly provides some shelter for people who don’t have a place to live,” Roman said, “but it’s not a home. It has negative consequences for people in terms of work, their health, and their children’s development.”.

They both live in vehicles and enjoy the freedom of not being tied down to any one location, but in contrast, Slocum’s life is about survival. “You have to be able to adapt to the situation that you have,” Slocum said.

There are some people who rather give up than fight on, but I survive.”. He recently discovered the van-life movement and said he was surprised to find people voluntarily living a similar lifestyle.

“I wish I could afford a small, used camper to stand up in, a table to sit down and eat, a counter [with a] sink for cooking and dishes, a shower and a real bathroom..but I make [do with what I have],” Slocum said in an email to Insider.

Like the thousands of others across the country, he is hopeful about eventually finding an apartment that fits his needs, and he even dreams about one day joining the van life movement voluntarily.

Homelessness is a global crisis existing in both developed and developing nations. While there are many ways to define homelessness, the simplest definition is: homelessness is the situation in which an individual lacks personal shelter.

Where exactly do homeless people sleep.

It offers privacy and decent shelter. However, it does not offer enough security for someone to fall asleep soundly at night.

It is also uncomfortable for someone who cannot sleep well in cramped spaces. The worst part is that you are always on the move.

You could get punished in some manner for illegal parking or even sleeping in your car, depending on your state’s legislation. Sleeping in your car is a very uncertain way of life, which makes it difficult for you to ever be at ease.

They are safer than the streets and they provide a decent amount of space. They are also fairly affordable.

Leaking roofs, tight spaces, and unhygienic kitchens are just a few examples of the problems a family can expect to face. More importantly, when the money runs out, the family is forced to go back on the street.

Some people refer to storage units as modern-day cardboard boxes. This comparison could have something to do with the accessibility and convenience of such units.

They are secure, dry, and less dangerous than being out on the streets. Many homeless people even keep their possessions in these storage units.

Parks are tempting for homeless people because they are public spaces, thus they do not have to worry about trespassing boundaries. The lush grass and the wooden benches provide a decent space to stretch out or sleep.

Sometimes, the local police could ask you to move over to a different spot. The street does not sound like an ideal place to spend the night in.

In most cases, however, a homeless person has no other choice but to sleep on the streets. This is especially true if that person is also struggling with addictions and social phobias that make him prefer the idea of living by himself on a street.

These are regions where a group of people set up camps together, typically on the outskirts of the city. The issue here is that these encampments are controversial.

However, social programs like Navigation Center in San Francisco are trying to improve the lives of the homeless. The Navigation Center does this by trying to move whole encampments into a temporary space.

Abandoned buildings are very common in cities. They provide a convenient place to sleep, or even live temporarily.

Homelessness can strike us in many ways. It can be a brief episode, or it can be lengthier.

If we are lucky, some of them will offer us their couch to sleep in. This has given rise to the phenomenon of “couch surfing”, whereby homeless people spend every night at a friend or relative’s home.

People who sleep on couches are generally referred to as the hidden homeless, because they do not access homeless support services. As a result, they are not part of any official homelessness statistics.

The time someone can spend at their friend’s house depends on how long the friend will extend their hospitality. In many countries, thousands of foreclosed homes are either empty or boarded up.

Thus, it is no surprise that so many homeless people choose to spend their nights in vacant buildings like these. Much like abandoned buildings, foreclosed homes are ideal for anyone looking forward to a quiet night’s sleep and as little social interaction as possible.

However, you would be surprised to learn that not everyone wants to spend the night in these shelters. In places like San Francisco, shelters are running at full capacity.

Another concern is the potential exposure to drugs and other vices, considering the diverse range of personalities you can find there. For many people, shelters are out of the question because they just do not suit them.

For instance, some shelters do not allow people to bring certain possessions or pet animals.