I've been living full time in my 2004 Toyota Highlander for 5 years now. I'm houseless not homeless and that's the Secret... Don't Look Homeless and don't park in the midst of "Homeless Camps". Keep you and your car so clean and presentable that no one would ever guess that you lived in your vehicle. I've also found that the smaller the vehicle, the less likely you are to get "The Knock". They're hunting for the huge RVs and Vans that look tore-up and trashed. Think about it, if you're paying a million dollars plus living expenses to live in a house, would you want to see Homeless Camps all around you? I don't think so... Just be respectfull and don't look or act like a stereotypical Homeless person and the police will leave you alone in most cases.
The amount someone pays doesn’t matter, it’s the percent of their total income and I spend 3/4ths of my income on housing. Yeah, if homeless camps were around the street I would have a problem with it but I would blame the local government for not allowing services and housing organizations into the county. I would work harder to help make society better so there wouldn’t be as many homeless and I bet my neighbors would help more than they are if it was right in front of them. Having people with nowhere to go move is cruel and doesn’t do anything about the actual issues. Anyone who would just want them moved so they could go back to ignoring the problem is someone I don’t want as a neighbor anyway, and if a bunch of people across the streets living in tents runs them out of the complex then maybe we would be better off with the, around. Many of us are one illness or accident away from joining them. It’s in all of our best interests to kick our politicians in the shorts to get the going on these issues.
As a graduate student, I am currently working on changing the law that states we cannot live in our vehicle in New Mexico. The law states, ""No person shall stand, stop or park a vehicle on any street for the principal purpose of living within the vehicle" There is no housing crisis. There is an AFFORDABLE housing crisis. We have a one-year waiting list for housing. I'm seriously into this topic right now. Thank you for your video!!!!!!!
I'm a disabled veteran and due to multiple surgeries recently, I haven't been able to work full time. I'm not 100% disabled so the VA said the best they could do on housing (VASH) was $1400 per month. Yet, it's illegal to sleep in your car almost everywhere in Southern California where I currently live. If you live on the street, the police will confiscate your stuff, throw it in the trash, and throw you in jail. So, basically, it's becoming illegal to live anywhere in the US if you're poor.
@@moroteseoinage “Creeps”??? Your freedoms come at a cost... Life and limb sacrificed by those who served. Multiple serious injuries and major surgeries cost me my ability to work full-time. Most of those injuries are a direct result of my military service. Anyone can become disabled and/or incapable of working full-time at any time. If I were you, I’d start praying that you don't end up having a really bad accident and losing your ability to work… or you too might just become one of those “creeps” you complain about being in your neighborhood. Freedom isn't free! What did you ever sacrifice for your country?
Great advice! People, please listen to it! I just spent my first two weeks as technically homeless, driving from Colorado to Washington. It *was* tricky to find a safe place to sleep in my car. Even some truck stops didn't allow non-big rigs to park overnight. I used all the same tricks: iOverlander, iExit, Campendium... Reddit was pretty helpful too. I managed okay, but I'm not sure I could do this full-time in my older Forester. I hurt my back along the way and that was a major problem--doing this at age 70 is hard!
I grew up in the OC, and now live near the Pomona Fairground/Claremont area because it was too expensive down there! Glad to hear you've found some accommodating police departments!
Thank you so much! This is probably the most informative video on finding places to sleep overnight. Suv seems to be the best option because you can go stealth in the city and you can also off-road a bit. I don't mind people living in their vehicles on my street. The thing I mind is that sometimes the laundry room and washing machines get completely clogged with dirt and mud and pee and all of us need to use the washer and dryer at the same time on Saturday and Sunday because we work during the week. In my building we cracked down on this so it's not so bad but it was really outrageous. Please be clean and considerate everyone.
The main thing to preserve the freedom to sleep in your car in public places is for EVERYONE to stop acting like you can open your slides, cook on the streets, chairs out, etc. If you simply pullninto a legal parking spot and go to sleep, generally no one will care.
What I really got from this is that sleeping at a park during the day is perfectly fine the vast majority of the time, just don't do it after park hours. Assuming 8 hours sleeps, that leaves plenty of park hours to cook and then go about your night being productive.
Why don't many cities set up paid parking by the day, week, or month.. which are patrolled by security and have facilities such as showers and toilets... also they should enforce keeping everything clean and orderly.
Thanks for addressing this. I can’t find any info around here but this is a NIMBY place so I guess being super stealth would be the way to go. Sometimes people living in neighborhoods will notice that you don’t live around there and call cops. The Walmart here has signs all over the place.
I used to drive 50 miles to work. It was odd shifts as well. I used to pull into someplace and nap so I wouldn't be a deadly hazard. I never got harassed, maybe it was luck. Utah, Wasatch Front.
I just love your videos. I lived in Contra Costa for 60yrs and now I'm in Placer. Just bought a campervan and I'm ready to hit the road. Great info. Thanks.
It would be interesting to have a national driveway overnight- stay register, for cars, rv's, vans, and other; where everyone who registers is vetted and is safe, as well as vetted property owners. The driver could call ahead to the homeowner and ask permission if they can come and stay. This would allow those to stay in a home-owners driveway legally with permission. Someone like you could find a way to make this possible.
I can't wait to go on the road full time. Living in my car is my goal lol but it's true. So many boxes to try to check first though. If you aren't prepared you could end up homeless without a car, but that was my bad. This is great info. The more info at there the more people can prepare to be successful out there.
Any time I travel in another state I look up several laws, trespassing after notice, disorderly conduct, identification statue, and self defense law. That way when the police try to bully me out of an area that I’m allowed to be I can speak with some intelligence on the matter. This has kept me from being pushed around. I’m always friendly with the police but don’t say much. Mostly just ask questions that let them know I’m not a problem person. I don’t get stopped very often. I lived full time in my Toyota pu for a few years and averaged about one interaction every 6 months.
Yeah, right. That's just like thinking they can't prevent you from parking your RV at your home. Or building a commercial building in a residential district.
The laws don't differentiate but from a practical perspective, I have not had a problem, especially in the west and midwest where you can sleep in most rest stops
When we lived in Arizona (mind you this was in 2005 so almost 20 years ago, it could very well have run afoul of being gentrified since then) entering Mesa and Gilbert were absolutely "crossing the racks". Denser Hispanic population, a lot more non-chain or franchised mom and pop businesses, houses that were smaller single story with little to no yard or manicuring. Absolutely no one would rat you out or call the cops for overnight camping as long as you're being a good neighbor. Now if you tried that in Scottsdale, home of the affluent white retirees?? I don't think you park for even 10 minutes at a gas station before someone starts squinting at you funny.
My parents with their 5th wheel had no issues parking on residential streets in front of homes where no one appeared to be home, for years. Bylaws are often only enforced if there's an issue. Government has to tell you, they don't have to make it well known. Thus ignorance is no excuse of our employees making sure we know their rules, for their employers. Our Walmart has signage but do not enforce it unless some fool sets up a camping spot.
@@caroltharpmcgrath1533 It's a fear based overreaction. Totally agree. We will see much more of this though after that last supreme court decision. These towns are working off a template that is being spread around.
Lol!! I’m a trucker and have been sleeping in a vehicle (truck sleeper) for 25 yrs!! What difference does it make if it’s a truck or compact car..?. Stupid laws made by stupid lawmakers.
There’s some exceptions but in Campbell you can’t sleep in a car at night (but no idea if they enforce it), here’s the definition: “To sleep at any time between the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. in any of the following places: i. Outdoors with or without bedding, tent, hammock or other similar protection or equipment; ii. In, on or under any structure not designed for human habitation, whether with or without bedding, tent, hammock or other similar protection or equipment; iii. In, on or under any parked vehicle, including an automobile, bus, truck, camper, trailer or recreational vehicle”
Wait. If I as a property owner say you can't camp here, it is a law, as in you are trespassing the moment you camp on my property. I can call the police and have you trespassed and arrested. What I say on my property, thus has the effect of law.
Every cop I’ve talked to says they don’t arrest someone for trespassing unless the cop tells the person to leave and they refuse (so they trespassed in front of the cop) - apparently they don’t take the property owners word even if they have video 🤷🏻♀️
what could be done for an app or website would be resources to figure it out per area. for example you go in and type san francisco ca and then it links to ioverlander, it links to the municipal code, it has a search term copypaste for what terms to look up to find court cases, a glossary to translate some of the common terms into common language, links to social media groups that are relevant etc. it would still require individual human eyes looking over all the elements at the time theyre figuring it out, but it'd be easier than starting from scratch. having said that, it'd be a massive undertaking to even make that sort of website or app, and anyone who cares to probably doesnt have the capacity to. ugh. all this to say, i very much appreciate these breakdown videos you're doing.
We have been told by drivers education, if you are too sleepy to drive pull aside and rest, sleep wherever, street, highway whatever.
I've been living full time in my 2004 Toyota Highlander for 5 years now. I'm houseless not homeless and that's the Secret...
Don't Look Homeless and don't park in the midst of "Homeless Camps".
Keep you and your car so clean and presentable that no one would ever guess that you lived in your vehicle.
I've also found that the smaller the vehicle, the less likely you are to get "The Knock". They're hunting for the huge RVs and Vans that look tore-up and trashed.
Think about it, if you're paying a million dollars plus living expenses to live in a house, would you want to see Homeless Camps all around you? I don't think so...
Just be respectfull and don't look or act like a stereotypical Homeless person and the police will leave you alone in most cases.
The amount someone pays doesn’t matter, it’s the percent of their total income and I spend 3/4ths of my income on housing. Yeah, if homeless camps were around the street I would have a problem with it but I would blame the local government for not allowing services and housing organizations into the county. I would work harder to help make society better so there wouldn’t be as many homeless and I bet my neighbors would help more than they are if it was right in front of them.
Having people with nowhere to go move is cruel and doesn’t do anything about the actual issues. Anyone who would just want them moved so they could go back to ignoring the problem is someone I don’t want as a neighbor anyway, and if a bunch of people across the streets living in tents runs them out of the complex then maybe we would be better off with the, around.
Many of us are one illness or accident away from joining them. It’s in all of our best interests to kick our politicians in the shorts to get the going on these issues.
As a graduate student, I am currently working on changing the law that states we cannot live in our vehicle in New Mexico. The law states, ""No person shall stand, stop or park a vehicle on any street for the principal purpose of living within the vehicle" There is no housing crisis. There is an AFFORDABLE housing crisis. We have a one-year waiting list for housing. I'm seriously into this topic right now. Thank you for your video!!!!!!!
Good luck with your campaign!!
Yes, what a worthy cause to espouse! Good Luck!
@@elizabethoffgrid Thank you! I appreciate it!
@@deb7518 Thank you!
All this reminds me of my parents' description of the 1930s depression era.
I'm a disabled veteran and due to multiple surgeries recently, I haven't been able to work full time. I'm not 100% disabled so the VA said the best they could do on housing (VASH) was $1400 per month. Yet, it's illegal to sleep in your car almost everywhere in Southern California where I currently live. If you live on the street, the police will confiscate your stuff, throw it in the trash, and throw you in jail. So, basically, it's becoming illegal to live anywhere in the US if you're poor.
@@TXEROXT hit the eject, get out of there. Head East.
@@benjaminlewis671 💯 100% agreed!!!! I'm working on it.
. We don’t need creeps in our neighborhoods.
@@moroteseoinage “Creeps”??? Your freedoms come at a cost... Life and limb sacrificed by those who served. Multiple serious injuries and major surgeries cost me my ability to work full-time. Most of those injuries are a direct result of my military service. Anyone can become disabled and/or incapable of working full-time at any time. If I were you, I’d start praying that you don't end up having a really bad accident and losing your ability to work… or you too might just become one of those “creeps” you complain about being in your neighborhood. Freedom isn't free! What did you ever sacrifice for your country?
This is handled entirely different in other first world countries. Most countries in Europe would never allow a person to be treated that way.
Great advice! People, please listen to it! I just spent my first two weeks as technically homeless, driving from Colorado to Washington. It *was* tricky to find a safe place to sleep in my car. Even some truck stops didn't allow non-big rigs to park overnight. I used all the same tricks: iOverlander, iExit, Campendium... Reddit was pretty helpful too. I managed okay, but I'm not sure I could do this full-time in my older Forester. I hurt my back along the way and that was a major problem--doing this at age 70 is hard!
I live out of my van in So Cal (Orange County) and I just call the police stations of each city and ask.
I grew up in the OC, and now live near the Pomona Fairground/Claremont area because it was too expensive down there! Glad to hear you've found some accommodating police departments!
Thank you so much! This is probably the most informative video on finding places to sleep overnight. Suv seems to be the best option because you can go stealth in the city and you can also off-road a bit. I don't mind people living in their vehicles on my street. The thing I mind is that sometimes the laundry room and washing machines get completely clogged with dirt and mud and pee and all of us need to use the washer and dryer at the same time on Saturday and Sunday because we work during the week. In my building we cracked down on this so it's not so bad but it was really outrageous. Please be clean and considerate everyone.
The main thing to preserve the freedom to sleep in your car in public places is for EVERYONE to stop acting like you can open your slides, cook on the streets, chairs out, etc. If you simply pullninto a legal parking spot and go to sleep, generally no one will care.
What I really got from this is that sleeping at a park during the day is perfectly fine the vast majority of the time, just don't do it after park hours. Assuming 8 hours sleeps, that leaves plenty of park hours to cook and then go about your night being productive.
That makes a lot of sense - I see people doing that and it seems to work for them
Why don't many cities set up paid parking by the day, week, or month.. which are patrolled by security and have facilities such as showers and toilets... also they should enforce keeping everything clean and orderly.
Not enough cops to noncombatant people to enforce it.
agreed, this would be great. But there's a "not in my backyard" problem
Thanks for addressing this. I can’t find any info around here but this is a NIMBY place so I guess being super stealth would be the way to go. Sometimes people living in neighborhoods will notice that you don’t live around there and call cops. The Walmart here has signs all over the place.
Yes so true
4:50 security person walks behind your car 😂
I used to drive 50 miles to work. It was odd shifts as well. I used to pull into someplace and nap so I wouldn't be a deadly hazard. I never got harassed, maybe it was luck. Utah, Wasatch Front.
"i"m not camping officer, i'm RESTING from my FREEDOM to travel in my country...".
I just love your videos. I lived in Contra Costa for 60yrs and now I'm in Placer. Just bought a campervan and I'm ready to hit the road. Great info. Thanks.
Sounds great!
It would be interesting to have a national driveway overnight- stay register, for cars, rv's, vans, and other; where everyone who registers is vetted and is safe, as well as vetted property owners. The driver could call ahead to the homeowner and ask permission if they can come and stay. This would allow those to stay in a home-owners driveway legally with permission. Someone like you could find a way to make this possible.
@@ef5842 that would be great
A commenter below said she usually checks with the police in each city/town about overnight parking in their area. I love that idea!
I can't wait to go on the road full time. Living in my car is my goal lol but it's true. So many boxes to try to check first though. If you aren't prepared you could end up homeless without a car, but that was my bad. This is great info. The more info at there the more people can prepare to be successful out there.
Good luck!!
Thank you for sharing your video.Tips are valuable & helpful.
Welcome!
What an AWESOME and informative video. I will be car camping next year and appreciate the insight of videos like yours.
Congrats. You're headed to 7000 subscribers.
🎉
Thank you for your information Elizabeth.
You are so welcome!
What about sleeping on top the car and not in the car ? So much time is used just to find a place to sleep ?
Like in a tent on top? Hm that's very not-stealth but is great for remote dispersed camping and overlanding
Any time I travel in another state I look up several laws, trespassing after notice, disorderly conduct, identification statue, and self defense law. That way when the police try to bully me out of an area that I’m allowed to be I can speak with some intelligence on the matter. This has kept me from being pushed around. I’m always friendly with the police but don’t say much. Mostly just ask questions that let them know I’m not a problem person. I don’t get stopped very often. I lived full time in my Toyota pu for a few years and averaged about one interaction every 6 months.
I have been living in my van for four years and haven't a problem.
Good to hear!
@@elizabethoffgrid it's not easy but you learn to fit in. I move constantly during the day.
Yep I move a lot too
thank you! this is a fun and helpful channel.
Welcome!
I always wondered about that
On the otherhand though, as the property owner you could also negate any ordinace forbidding sleeping in your own car.
Yeah, right. That's just like thinking they can't prevent you from parking your RV at your home. Or building a commercial building in a residential district.
Yep the govt definitely can tell you what you can do on your own land here
What about sleeping for the night in my car while travelling, even though I have my own home? In a safe place, out of the way. Thank you
The laws don't differentiate but from a practical perspective, I have not had a problem, especially in the west and midwest where you can sleep in most rest stops
@@elizabethoffgrid Thank you very much!
When we lived in Arizona (mind you this was in 2005 so almost 20 years ago, it could very well have run afoul of being gentrified since then) entering Mesa and Gilbert were absolutely "crossing the racks". Denser Hispanic population, a lot more non-chain or franchised mom and pop businesses, houses that were smaller single story with little to no yard or manicuring. Absolutely no one would rat you out or call the cops for overnight camping as long as you're being a good neighbor. Now if you tried that in Scottsdale, home of the affluent white retirees?? I don't think you park for even 10 minutes at a gas station before someone starts squinting at you funny.
True it really depends on the vibe of the area - I stay away from fancy areas for sure
My parents with their 5th wheel had no issues parking on residential streets in front of homes where no one appeared to be home, for years.
Bylaws are often only enforced if there's an issue.
Government has to tell you, they don't have to make it well known. Thus ignorance is no excuse of our employees making sure we know their rules, for their employers.
Our Walmart has signage but do not enforce it unless some fool sets up a camping spot.
Thank you for putting this together for us newbies. I'll be back!
Welcome!!
😮hello! Do you use the upgraded version of ioverlander?
I've still been using the old one -- sounds like it will eventually become unstable but it is fine for me so far
You are in “Ninja” mode😎
My town just outlawed sleeping in your car as part of it's anti-homeless measures :(
yeah it seems to be spreading
Politicians are notorious for using bandaid solutions
Your car is your home, it’s not street camping. What is wrong with that sort of public thinking!
@@caroltharpmcgrath1533 It's a fear based overreaction. Totally agree. We will see much more of this though after that last supreme court decision. These towns are working off a template that is being spread around.
@@EnergyCenterDotTV that’s so sad. Where are the homeless supposed to sleep???
Good morning from arroyo grande
🦋
Good morning!
Hi Elizabeth 🙏🕊️💐🌹
Hi!
Lol!! I’m a trucker and have been sleeping in a vehicle (truck sleeper) for 25 yrs!! What difference does it make if it’s a truck or compact car..?. Stupid laws made by stupid lawmakers.
Girl what about Campbell California
There’s some exceptions but in Campbell you can’t sleep in a car at night (but no idea if they enforce it), here’s the definition: “To sleep at any time between the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. in any of the following places: i. Outdoors with or without bedding, tent, hammock or other similar protection or equipment; ii. In, on or under any structure not designed for human habitation, whether with or without bedding, tent, hammock or other similar protection or equipment; iii. In, on or under any parked vehicle, including an automobile, bus, truck, camper, trailer or recreational vehicle”
Wait. If I as a property owner say you can't camp here, it is a law, as in you are trespassing the moment you camp on my property. I can call the police and have you trespassed and arrested. What I say on my property, thus has the effect of law.
Every cop I’ve talked to says they don’t arrest someone for trespassing unless the cop tells the person to leave and they refuse (so they trespassed in front of the cop) - apparently they don’t take the property owners word even if they have video 🤷🏻♀️
what could be done for an app or website would be resources to figure it out per area. for example you go in and type san francisco ca and then it links to ioverlander, it links to the municipal code, it has a search term copypaste for what terms to look up to find court cases, a glossary to translate some of the common terms into common language, links to social media groups that are relevant etc. it would still require individual human eyes looking over all the elements at the time theyre figuring it out, but it'd be easier than starting from scratch. having said that, it'd be a massive undertaking to even make that sort of website or app, and anyone who cares to probably doesnt have the capacity to. ugh. all this to say, i very much appreciate these breakdown videos you're doing.
Yes I see what you mean, and, you're welcome!
Yeah, but not allowed becomes illegal as soon as cops are called.
I would also check to see which political party runs the state and be very conscientious about what kind of crime is happening. But that's just me.
Yep agreed
I'm a nurse who wants to live in a vehicle
If you ever make it down to the Show Low area, I offer free camping @RidgeValleyRanch
Thanks!