Life in a minivan: Mother, student and worker tells her story

Latest

Danielle Williams.

 
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Danielle Williams, 46, takes care of her teenage daughter and two dogs in the parking lot where she lives in her minivan. She downsized from an apartment to a car five years ago, after she was laid off from her accounting job in Santa Barbara CA. She looked for other work but encountered age discrimination. She picks up temporary work, but not enough to afford housing. In Los Angeles, 16,000 people now live in their vehicles, 32% up in the last year. There is no profit in building affordable housing for the poorest people. The government must step in to do so.
Recently, Danielle got accepted into college, so has moved to North Hollywood, where she is living in another lot. Following are her words, from an HBO interview video:
“Every day is different. I usually get up between 5:30 and 6:30. The days I have to work I drop my daughter off and then I head off to work and I work a full day. On the days I go to school we’re there the entire day. A lot of times we go to a restaurant where there’s WIFI so we can study while we’re eating.
“My car is a Chrysler Town and Country. My seat will go forward and back easily, though the space is not quite enough for my knees. This is a bed here, if you look in the back. This is a dirty-clothes hamper and this is my daughter’s bag of clothes; the rest is storage. We have a 7×10 storage space that is pretty much full. We had a life before this. I just couldn’t pay the rent any more, and we ended up sleeping in the car, thinking it was only going to be temporary.
“I do consider myself homeless. The world considers me homeless. When you think about homeless people you think about someone who is maybe on drugs, or with lots of mental health issues, or is lazy. But many are people like me, who are actually working, going to school, trying to get out of the life that they’re in but just can’t. We did one night at the rescue mission, that was terrifying for my daughter, and I felt like I would rather sleep in my car because I feel safer in my car than in one of those places.
“This is hard, but I know in the long run going back to school is the right thing to do.”

PT Logo collage
PT Homeless Desk |  + Articles by this author

San Francisco poet Sarah Menefee is a long-time homeless rights activist. She is the Homeless Desk on the People’s Tribune Editorial Board. She is a founding member of the League of Revolutionaries for a New America, the Revolutionary Poets Brigade and 'First they came for the homeless'. Her latest collections of poetry are Human Star and CEMENT. 'Her latest books of poetry are Holy Eel, There You Are and Winter Rose.

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.orgPlease donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Oct. 18 ‘No Kings’ Rallies Could Be ‘Largest Protest in US History’

Millions of Americans and people across the world are preparing to take to the streets Oct. 18 for a second No Kings rally.

ICE Fears Put Pregnant Immigrants and Their Babies at Risk

Fear of deportation is deterring people without permanent legal status from critical care. Doctors are worried for the health of pregnant immigrants, and the health of their pregnancies. This story was originally reported by 19thnews.org.

Government Shutdown and the Blame Game

Using a bold-faced lie President Trump and Vice President Vance blamed immigrants, particularly the undocumented, for the government shutdown now in effect throughout the country. The Republican plan would increase Obamacare payments and make Medicaid cuts.

Emmy-Winning Journalist Deported After Reporting on Anti-Trump Protest

Emmy award-winning journalist Mario Guevara was deported to El Salvador – a country he fled over 20 years ago — in retaliation for filming law enforcement activities, says the Committee to Protect Journalists.

A Salute to Chicagoans Fighting ICE

A salute to Chicagoans fighting ICE and to the food delivery worker on a bicycle who outrode ICE agents after they tried to kidnap him on the streets of downtown Chicago.

More from the People's Tribune