City Council Adopts Pilot Initiative That Removed 150 RVs From Streets
The Los Angeles City Council has formally adopted a program that transitions people living in recreational vehicles into permanent housing, following a pilot effort that has removed about 150 RVs from city streets and placed nearly 300 residents into homes.
The initiative, known as RV-to-Home, was tested in Council District 7 and gained citywide approval after demonstrating measurable results, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said Wednesday as RVs were being cleared from streets in her district. Rodriguez said many participants did not view themselves as homeless, noting that their situations often stemmed from economic displacement rather than chronic street homelessness.
“In fact, nothing could be further from the truth,” Rodriguez said, describing individuals who had been living in RVs as people seeking stability rather than shelter services. People were often afraid that once they gave up the RV, that they would be abandoned and without shelter again.
Beyond housing placements, the program addresses public health and safety concerns associated with long-term RV parking. City officials and nonprofit partners worked to identify vehicles that posed hazards, coordinate towing operations, and arrange for the proper disposal of unusable RVs.
A nonprofit organization partnered with the city during the pilot phase to conduct outreach, provide interim housing options,s and help residents navigate the transition into permanent homes. Rodriguez said the effort also involved collaboration with recyclers to dismantle vehicles and with police garages that temporarily stored RVs after towing.
Funding for the pilot program was supported by a $350 million grant from the Hilton Foundation, with an additional $5 million awarded by the state following the program’s early success. A key milestone is approaching as the nonprofit prepares to place its 300th former RV resident into housing.
The program is expected to expand across Los Angeles after the City Council voted to adopt the model for broader use. Its growth is further supported by a new state law scheduled to take effect in January that will streamline the removal and disposal of impounded RVs valued at $4,000 or less, allowing more vehicles to be dismantled and cleared from city streets.
Rodriguez said the initiative has shown that building trust with people living in RVs is essential to achieving long-term housing outcomes, calling the program a potential blueprint for addressing similar challenges throughout the city.
