The Difference Between Living in a Van and Being Homeless
During a 6,700-mile road trip and poetry tour with my girlfriend Jess, we lived out of her car for the better part of a month. Encounters during that journey, coupled with my own experiences and observations, have led me to contemplate the often-blurred lines between van life and homelessness.
In Coachella, a homeless family mistook us for kindred spirits. In Los Angeles, the unhoused welcomed us, offering advice on how to make ends meet, or where to park safely each night. In New Mexico and Arizona, the transient and the homeless mingled without judgment – and at every truck stop, there was a clear mix of folks living in cars.
Jess and I discussed these distinctions daily, both of us having experienced housing instability firsthand, and witnessed the spectrum of life’s offerings. It’s a frequent debate topic within van life and car camping circles – what constitutes the difference between choosing to live in a van and being homeless?
I am no expert. But I’ve survived homelessness, poverty, mental health challenges, trauma, and addiction. I’ve lived on the streets, in cars, squatted in abandoned buildings, slept in shelters and halfway houses. Over the last 18 years of California sober living, I’ve participated in numerous support groups in various settings, helped serve meals to the homeless, worked with vulnerable teens, written for a local homeless newspaper, and given away money to panhandlers, whom I consider my friends. These are my people, and when others realize I also experienced homelessness, they understand the shared language.
This perspective matters more than ever. Recent news reports show homelessness rose nearly 20% in 2024. The increase comes as no surprise. Housing prices are unaffordable, and wealth continues to concentrate at the top. The only economy I care about is whether working people can afford to live.
When I obtain my own van, will I be homeless? Yes and no. It’s complicated and subjective.
In Arizona, Jess and I camped in Quartzite, a winter haven for vehicle dwellers. On any given winter day, over 15,000 people live there off-grid. Many choose this lifestyle; others are facing difficult circumstances.
So, what is the difference?
It’s a fine line, as I see it:
- Perception: It can be challenging to convince some homeless people they are, in fact, homeless. Sleeping on the streets is not the only determining factor.
- Choice: Thousands of van dwellers could afford houses or apartments. However, they live out of vans for various reasons – for a sense of freedom, for example. For many, 22 of those 32 days on the road were the best days.
- Priorities: Many have chosen free time over money.
- Necessity: Thousands live in RVs, vans, and cars because they cannot afford traditional housing. Those with a family can also be facing financial hardships.
- Crisis: Living in a car is often the next step after losing housing.
- Poverty: Car life is evolving into its own level of poverty, particularly in big cities.
- Definition: It is nearly impossible to define homelessness accurately, let alone count the unhoused population.
As for our travels, I was at times unsure of who was officially homeless. But living amongst other travelers strengthened my resolve to tell the stories of those often forgotten or left behind.
Since 2020, the number of people living in vans, cars and RVs has increased by over 60%. During that same time, housing costs have risen nearly 50%. The crisis will likely worsen. I plan to offer some self-help guides very soon.
Love, Dan
