Giving Compass' Take:
- Kayla Robbins reports on how San Francisco banning RV parking could potentially exacerbate the homelessness crisis in the city rather than improving conditions.
- How can donors and funders support effective solutions to the homelessness crisis that address the root causes of homelessness rather than criminalizing it?
- Learn more about key issues in homelessness and housing and how you can help.
- Search our Guide to Good for nonprofits focused on homelessness in your area.
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In San Francisco, a city plan has been proposed that would prohibit large vehicles such as travel trailers and mobile homes from parking on all city-managed streets from 12 am to 6 am if approved by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors. The city has already been playing a game of demented whack-a-mole, moving RV dwellers from place to place with localized bans. Now, they are considering banning RV parking across the whole city.
Some people may think that a ban like this would “encourage” people to drive out of town searching for greener pastures, thereby lowering the city’s homelessness numbers without having to do too much public dirty work. That idea is completely disconnected from reality.
Moving away is impossible for many people relying on vehicles and “mobile” homes in San Francisco. There are no greener pastures to go to. The ban will only jeopardize what little shelter they have.
Banning RV Parking Could Worsen San Francisco's Homelessness Crisis Rather Than Resolve It
The proposed ban would expand the area where overnight parking of large vehicles is prohibited from 47 miles of street frontage within San Francisco to every street in the city managed by SMFTA. It would also allow officials to tow away vehicles that violate this new rule—a power not allowed under the current ban.
We’ve repeatedly seen the vicious cycle of criminalization play out to keep people stuck in homelessness. This ban would be no different. Towing vehicles serving as a person or family’s only shelter cuts off access to their only home and worldly possessions. It also incurs a fine that many will not be able to pay without compromising their ability to exit homelessness long-term.
The proposed ban currently includes language to prevent the towing of vehicles being used as a residence “until an offer of shelter… has been made to occupants.” However, if shelter were available and the occupants still chose to live in their vehicle, they had a reason for making that choice.
Read the full article about banning RV parking by Kayla Robbins at Invisible People.