LA County Board of Supervisors Vote to Crackdown on “Vanlords”

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution that would clamp down on “vanlords” and RV encampments. 

Vanlords rent out their RVs for the homeless, creating encampments. 

What’s in the Resolution?

Although the resolution was passed unanimously, it will be a while before the actual policy is implemented. The resolution calls for LA County staff to find recommendations on how to eliminate the transfer of RVs in the public right-of-way within the next 90 days. 

That includes selling, renting, or leasing of these vehicles. 

The recommendation will include how the county can escalate fines to violators, and how the money from that can be invested into the county’s homelessness initiative. 

In particular, the county wants to use money from the fines for the Pathway Home RV Program, which aims to place the unsheltered population in stable housing. 

Why?

Although the growth in homelessness has slowed down in Southern California, the same cannot be said for the rise in people living in RVs.

From 2020 to 2023, there has been a 31% increase in those living in RVs in Los Angeles County, much higher than the total increase in homelessness. 

As a result, the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have been more active in putting in policies to crack down on RVs in the public right-of-way. The LA City Council passed a similar “Vanlord” policy just a few months ago. 

Keep up with BOMA on the Frontline for the latest news in the Greater Los Angeles area.