The Journey Indoors for One RV Family
- Megan Rohrer
- Oct 27
- 2 min read
After years of living in their RV, Carlos could hardly believe his family’s move indoors was finally in reach. He drove their vehicle to a pop-up RV outreach event in Bayview/Hunter’s Point. The home that kept his family safe for years stalled at a stop light one block away from the event, five minutes before it was scheduled to end.
The eager family's dreams were not dashed by the limits of their vehicle. Other RV owners rallied around them, attached cables to the engine, and brought it back to life. Sunlight faded, but the dedicated outreach workers from Urban Alchemy and the city’s Homeless Outreach Team did not turn them away when they arrived a few minutes after the event ended. Instead, they got out lanterns and completed the final paperwork needed to get the family their temporary RV permit, which will keep their vehicle from getting towed while they prepare to move indoors.
“Feliz! Feliz! Feliz!” Laura exclaimed a few weeks later, when Compass staff introduced the family to the outreach workers who would help them with the move. Laura was ready to say goodbye to their home on wheels. “It feels like we won the lottery,” she said.
The family is participating in a vehicle buy-back program. Two days after completing the paperwork, the family received $1,000. Once they move indoors, the family will receive an additional $175/foot for each foot of their vehicle’s length over 22 feet. Participants are estimated to receive $3,000 – $7,000 in total for their RVs.
Jason, the Director of the Large Vehicle Program at Catholic Charities, is leading the
team that is helping RV families move indoors. He understands these families’ struggles firsthand, having been a Compass client with his family back in 2011. Today, he supports families by leading with empathy, assuring them that he knows what it felt like to be in their shoes.
Jason also helps families connect with other opportunities they need for long-term success. He told Laura and Carlos about opportunities from the Treasurer’s Office to receive city debt relief, other benefits they are eligible for, and job opportunities they can pursue to increase their income.
On Friday, Laura, Carlos, and their children got the keys to their new home. They cheered with delight on their way down the hall. Laughter filled the apartment as the children began exploring the bathroom, the closets, and the kitchen. They are among the first of many families who will be moving into housing in the days and months ahead, each taking another step toward housing, stability, and hope. Welcome home!
This blog is part four of a series of stories we are sharing about the needs of families living in large vehicles. Other posts in this series include:
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