RV Parks are fighting homelessness - by denying people a campsite if they’re sleeping in their car, truck van. KOA (Kampgrounds Of America) has always been elitist and overpriced, but in the past they pretty much loved a dollar so much they’d look the other way if someone wanted to pay for the privilege of sleeping in their vehicle. Come to think of it…everyone in a campground who is not in a tent - IS SLEEPING IN THEIR VEHICLE!! (Yes. I’m shouting!)

The thing is, KOA and other campgrounds, and most people, continue to see “the homeless” as moral and social rejects or criminals, not as people like themselves. I went to a KOA here in Richmond, VA yesterday to ask about long term (week and month) pricing. They looked at my van and said that I could only stay a month. Now…my van is outfitted for camping - bed, porta-potty, dressers, kitchen etc. - not fancy, but a “camper.” But in their minds, it’s not a $100,000 Road Trek (fully outfitted van camper), so it doesn’t qualify as an RV. So I could only stay a week, and then only if I wanted to pitch a tent and stay for $20 a night with no water or electric. What a deal. $20 for a gravel parking place, no water, no electric and the owners looking down their nose at me. There’s a reason KOA’s are hated.

Now, KOA and every other campground has a right to set a tone, atmosphere etc. for its customers. There are restaurants who require a suit and tie, and so on…so yeah, if I were a business I’d want to have control over the safety and comfort of my customers too. But it’s kind of sad that this country - especially the campgrounds, make judgments about people based on where they sleep.

I mean, c’mon. EVERYONE in the RV park IS SLEEPING IN THEIR VEHICLE!! It’s just the PRICE of the vehicle that KOA is really looking at. Once again, a society that values looks and appearances and money over anything else. I’m beginning to think it’s not really homelessness that matters - I think it’s the money. Howard Hughes was a millionaire, and near the end of his life lived, looked and acted like a down and out, homeless addict, but he was considered “eccentric.”

Homelessness isn’t really about not having a structure. It’s about not having the financial resources to fit in. If you don’t have the money, but APPEAR to have the money, you’re good. Anyone know this “keeping up with the Joneses” thing? You have to LOOK good to be accepted. Gee…not surprised there. The ole’ “Be yourself,” and “don’t worry about appearances,” may sell a lot of books for the spiritual gurus, but it’s not reality. Reality is, appearances DO matter.

I remember when I would get out of my van in Denver, with laptop and $2,000 worth of camera gear, wearing blue jeans and a polo shirt and go into Pannera Bread and be treated as an “eccentric artist” - “Oh! You’re a writer/photographer!!” was the reaction when they saw “the gear.” When I went in without the gear, I was treated like a homeless woman - like I was there to panhandle the customers. I had money. I bought lunch, but the perception was, “She’s not valuable because she doesn’t LOOK valuable.” I played with this a couple of times - getting dressed up, parking a block away and walking in….and so on…and it’s true. LOOK like you’re well-off and you get treated like you are. Homeless people, take note. Shave, shower, dress and “look” good….and you’ll go farther. DON’T look homeless expecting to get help that way. It doesn’t work like that. Look homeless and you’ll only attract anger, hatred, pity and trouble.

I watched police roust an old, decrepit RV out of the Wal-Mart parking lot here in Richmond, VA last week. This week a million dollar Class A (bus) motorhome with car in tow has been sitting there unmolested. Why? Because the owners look like they “obviously” have money and are likely to spend some of it at Wal-Mart.

For a country that prides itself on being a place where anyone can become anything, where “rags-to-riches” stories are celebrated and made into movies…we’re a pretty damn unforgiving society when it comes to helping each other out. We forget the “rags” part of the story often includes homelessness. If you don’t believe me, go to the menu bar on this site and click on “how-to” and go to the Famous Homeless People list. Or just click the link. Amazing eh?

During my year on the streets I learned that most social organizations aren’t really committed to getting the homeless off of the streets. If they were, they’d be doing something different. Anyone realize that “the homeless problem” didn’t become a problem until mental institutions turned out all their patients decades ago…But I ask, is it cheaper to pay for the problems the mentally ill cause on the streets, or to pay for warehousing?

Anyone notice the housing situation? Ask yourself, does everyone really NEED to live in a McMansion? Why won’t local, county, state and federal housing laws permit 150-to-400 square foot homes? AFFORDABLE housing! Because they collect taxes based on square footage. It’s not cost effective to allow a 400 square foot home, even though 400 square feet is all anyone really needs. Some people can live in 200 or even 100 square foot homes. Don’t believe me? Look here, here and here!! Or Google/Bing “Tiny house designs” and see - there are dozens of people making and building these homes and living in them. The catch is - they have to be on wheels (mobile or RV) or on property with an existing home to be “legal.”

Seniors, many on fixed incomes, only need a couple hundred square feet. We “allow” apartments to be tiny - because they’re part of a larger property that pays huge taxes, so it’s NOT the square foot issue. Prisons say it is “humane” to keep a man/woman in an 8×10 foot cell…so we know it’s NOT a matter of space. It’s a matter of MONEY. How much tax can you charge per square foot….Yet, communities complain about their homeless problem.

I’m not asking RV parks to let in folks who look like they’ll cause trouble, break down, or create a campsite that looks like the Beverly Hillbillies moved in. But rethink your policy. Make it a case-by-case basis. People who are paying $500 a month for 100 square feet of gravel parking and a community shower at your facility may just need that time to get back on their feet, or find a job. Why shouldn’t they be able to park a pickup truck or SUV or van there, use the facilities and cook out like anyone else? If they can pay for the privilege, let them. Those who are working can keep working and probably be able to afford a modest RV or trailer in a couple of months. Most campground workers are making $7 an hour or less…and are only a couple of paychecks away from homelessness themselves, and seem intent on keeping out people much like themselves! God forbid you find yourself in the same situation.

I’m just asking, does it really matter what someone is sleeping in if they can pay your fees and follow your dog, cleanup, noise and cleanliness policies?