stereotypes and biases and prejudices and all the stuff that goes with it.” Charlene says all the nomadic women who have stayed in her driveway or that she’s communicated with online are gainfully employed. “They're not collecting money on the street,” she says. “We're all gainfully employed and continue to do so regardless of the living situation.” She believes the most important issue for all of them is safe, discreet parking. She says she’d love to see a fairground or church allow overnight parking, just for a safe, well-lighted place to park and sleep. “Even if it was $5 a night or something just so that there was a bathroom that could be used or something like that,” she says. “But safety, obviously, is the biggest issue—and then just not being harassed, bothered or judged.” Carol from Napa County Carol was a homeowner in Napa County for almost 25 years. She never envisioned being unable to afford her own home, but a divorce meant she wouldn’t be able to maintain her house. She has now joined the growing number of women choosing to walk away from the daunting expense of housing to one that provides other challenges. Carol had a successful career in real estate and previously owned four homes. But she fell ill with Crohn's disease and has been on permanent disability for 20 years. Her disability didn’t provide enough income to cover the increasing costs of upkeep on her aging house. She decided the smart thing would be to sell before she got in over her head and lost everything. Selling her home provided enough money to invest in a quality RV and a membership through Thousand Trails campground website. The annual membership allows her to camp in locations for up to three weeks at a time without any additional fees. Carol says the campgrounds are attractive, have amenities and, most importantly, they are safe. She says this was important to her because she’s a woman traveling alone. “I've been in a house or an apartment since I was a child, and I thought I was going to be jumping out [in the RV] and just be all happy, like, ‘OK, this is the rest of my life,’” Carol says. “I was happy for the first three months and then the, ‘Oh sh-t, this is the rest of my life’ stuff set in. And, uh, yeah, it got real scary.” In January Carol loaded up her RV and drove a couple of hours away for her first camping reservation with Thousand Trails. It would prove to be a lesson in being prepared for the unexpected. “On my second week there, the park closed down because the entire electrical system went out,” she says.
Houseless: A look under the hood
While following several online sites for solo women car dwellers during research for this story, it became apparent that every day more women are leaving their homes and moving into their vehicles. Some share that they are leaving their “sticks and bricks” because paying for it means they can afford little else. They’re stepping away from homes and investing in vehicles that allow for comfort while living in them. Some are traveling and enjoying the lifestyle of moving from one lovely campsite to another, enjoying the freedom and more time in nature. Many have solar setups and Starlink mobile broadband so that they can work as they travel or keep in touch with their friends and family. Others are not so fortunate but have chosen to cut their massive housing expenses by simply setting up their vehicles for camping. Many need to stick close to where they work and so they hide in plain sight— parking where they will hopefully not be discovered. Memberships to Planet Fitness are popular because they can get in a workout as well as a shower. They’ve found options for how to maintain good hygiene and setups for going to the bathroom. There is a lot of talk of not impacting the places at which they’re staying and a popular phrase is “leave no trace.” When someone mentions doing something counter to that philosophy the groups are quick to respond, asserting that bad behavior makes it harder for everyone. These women don’t want to be compared to those who impact their area with belongings and trash scattered about. For the most part, these women don’t refer to themselves as homeless, because they have a home on wheels. They’re quick to say they’re simply “houseless.” Another common post among the groups is from women who are new to the lifestyle and are afraid. Others post when something has happened to make them fearful, like a stranger trying to peer through their windows or trying their door handles. Women in the groups quickly jump to share comforting words and advice about trusting one’s gut and leaving an area when it is telling them to go. The most common thread that continues to appear among the conversations is the need for safe, discreet parking. If there were ways of providing safe spaces for solo women to park it would be one step closer for the houseless women of the North Bay area to exist without fear.— Janet Perry
December 2024
NorthBaybiz 27
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