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KPBS Evening Edition

Living The 'Van Life' In San Diego

Photo of van parked in Ocean Beach, March 19th, 2019.
Kris Arciaga
Photo of van parked in Ocean Beach, March 19th, 2019.

A ban on people living in their vehicles is once again up for debate in San Diego. Mayor Kevin Faulconer proposed a reinstatement of the ordinance Monday following complaints from residents.

RELATED: Mayor Faulconer Proposes Ban On Living In Vehicles, Expanding Safe Parking Lot Program

Council members repealed an ordinance which made sleeping in parked vehicles illegal last month. Some people choose to live in vans and cars in order to enjoy an ocean view from a parking lot. One thing to note, there are many people who don’t choose to live in their vehicles in San Diego, but they have to because they have no other options.

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So what is it actually like to live mobile in San Diego?

KPBS went to Ocean Beach to see how the “van life” works.

Living The "Van Life" In San Diego

Corrected: April 26, 2024 at 8:13 PM PDT
Editor’s Note: We added more context to this story by including a note on the people who are living in their vehicles as a last resort.