This panel will discuss the different experiences of people living in vehicles. It will cover those who are tied to a specific location and those with a more mobile lifestyle, including short-term travel for work and long-term semi-mobile living situations. The panel aims to honor the unique ways individuals identify within the vehicle residency community, emphasizing that all forms of vehicle residency are valid and contribute to community, dignity, support, human rights, and property rights.
A central theme of the panel is to provide a broader perspective on vehicle residents as a whole, showing how coming together allows for mutual support and collaboration. Through sharing and collaboration across different groups of vehicle residents, participants will see how collective strength and advocacy can emerge. The panel will use the metaphor of “reeds bound together cannot be broken” to underscore the importance of unity and common defense within the community. The discussion will highlight the complex reasons people choose or are forced into vehicle residency, challenging the notion of it being synonymous with homelessness.
The goals of this panel are multifaceted. It aims to raise awareness about the diversity within the vehicle residency population and promote a sense of unity as a cohesive community. By reducing prejudice and negativity, the panel will encourage attendees to see vehicle residency as a form of affordable housing rather than just a sign of homelessness. Recognizing the various commonalities that tie vehicle residents together, the discussion will emphasize that there is no single solution to the challenges faced by this population because it is not a monolithic group. By inspiring collaboration and understanding, the panel will help redefine vehicle residency in a positive light, emphasizing that it is defined in the moment and by the individuals living it.
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Panelists
Dr. Graham J. Pruss is an anthropologist who studies vehicle residency in North America. His research focuses on the intersection of lived experiences, social services, legal…
Jake Hoster A vehicle resident of over five years, Jake became a nomad after a 20+ year IT career. He has found success and happiness…
Janet Douglas is the founder of Nomads Helping Nomads Network and the steward of Luna Gaia Nomadic Village. Nomads Helping Nomads Network is a group…
Peggy is 3rd generation Venice, California resident, daughter of a human and environmental rights family, and co-founder of the Venice Justice Committee in 2001. The…