D.T. Carson
In an effort to crackdown on vanlords, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion to prevent people who rent recreational vehicles from continuing to profit off the homelessness crisis and to hold them accountable for fostering unsafe living conditions.
Vanlords have increasingly become a problem in L.A. County with estimates indicating that somewhere in the neighborhood of 11,500 people live in about 6,800 RVs.
Unfortunately, these living conditions are often substandard and may not meet basic health and safety standards. This growing problem reflects the deeper inequalities present in the county’s housing systems and the urgency of addressing affordable housing solutions.
The motion— authored by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Kathryn Barger —calls for a report back in 90 days on potential County ordinances that will help significantly lessen the sale, lease, or rental of recreational vehicles (RVs) that are in the public right-of-way to help reduce the number of RV encampments Countywide.
“Everyone deserves safe housing free from exploitation and fear,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “RVs rented by vanlords, often lack proper registration and insurance and aren’t subject to housing regulations, creating unsafe and hazardous living conditions for those living in RVs and the surrounding communities. I’m proud that this motion will create the legal tools to prevent the rental of RVs and continue the County’s priority to provide stable permanent housing for our unhoused residents.”
Over the past three years, LA County has seen a significant increase in RV encampments in our unincorporated communities. Unhoused residents can pay from $2000 to $5000 upfront and $200-$400 in monthly maintenance.
“My district is home to several very large RV encampments, including up to 90 RVs that line Forest Lawn Drive,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Although I’ve been working with our City of L.A. partners to explore solutions, it has been challenging because city and county ordinances haven’t been updated so our hands are tied. I’m very hopeful that this motion will both bring justice to the predatory networks of vanlords that are taking advantage of people in need and help those housed in RVs know what their rights are.”