XPost: rec.outdoors.rv-travel, sac.politics, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
   XPost: alt.home.repair   
   From: democrat.results@dummies.vote   
      
   Thousands of Bay Area residents trading in their house keys for car keys   
   — and unscrupulous “vanlords” are taking advantage.   
      
   The concentration of Californians living in RVs has spiked, according to   
   a CNBC report, and even full-time workers have joined the growing   
   cohort.   
      
   New demand has led to vehicles being shelled out as unregulated rental   
   properties, much to the concern of local officials.   
      
   Residents have plenty of reasons to opt for turning their vehicles into   
   makeshift homes. A recent report on the state’s housing crisis revealed   
   that a whopping 30.4% of Golden State listings were priced at more than   
   $1 million. Untenable costs have led to an ongoing population decline.   
      
   For those without any other housing options, the state’s number of   
   emergency shelter beds is woefully inadequate to meet demand, CNBC   
   reported.   
      
   Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom boasting a 9% decline in homelessness in   
   January, California residents and local businesses have reported feeling   
   “held hostage” by rampant tent and vehicle encampments in their   
   communities.   
      
   Federal housing data suggests the state hosts a quarter of the country’s   
   homeless population.   
      
   In response to the tight housing market, an exploitative “shadow rental   
   market,” has arrived in the Bay Area, CNBC reported. Locals taking   
   advantage of the crisis have turned a profit as “vanlords,” renting out   
   their shoddy, old RVs for hundreds of dollars.   
      
   These unofficial rentals are not backed by written leases or tenant   
   protection laws, leaving residents with few choices in a vulnerable   
   spot.   
      
   One such renter told CNBC they and a friend have spent $500 per month to   
   rent a publicly parked RV in San Francisco for the past year. The   
   manager of a legal RV park said their site has evolved from serving   
   tourists to long-term residents.   
      
   San Francisco has ramped up parking enforcement in response to the   
   off-the-books market, and legislation to ban the practice in San Jose is   
   in the works.   
      
   https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/debris-belongings-s   
   urround-rv-encampment-119109072.jpg?resize=720,480&quality=75&strip=all   
      
   San Jose has also made headway with a creative alternative to the shadow   
   market, called a “safe parking site.” The city’s two grant-funded sites   
   offer a total of 128 parking spots that are temporary and rent-free.   
      
   The newest location, an 86-spot site located between industrial plants,   
   offers showers, laundry facilities and an office of case workers to   
   residents. The waitlist is full.   
      
   The number of homeless Santa Clara County residents sleeping in cars   
   more than doubled since the pandemic, CNBC reported, citing county data.   
   The figure rose from 18% in 2019 up to 37% in 2025. The area is home to   
   Silicon Valley and eight of the country’s 50 priciest ZIP codes.   
      
   A similar safe site project in San Fransisco was previously shuttered.   
   City officials there suggested to CNBC that official RV parks should be   
   reconsidered as a regional housing strategy.   
      
   https://nypost.com/2026/02/20/real-estate/calfornians-are-increasingly-li   
   ving-in-rvs-as-costs-soar/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)