Safety and Safe Parking for People Experiencing Vehicle Homelessness: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT

The number of laws criminalizing homelessness is increasing in the United States. Simultaneously, more individuals are experiencing homelessness, and of those, an increasing number are experiencing vehicle homelessness. Safe parking lots, where people can legally shelter in their vehicles overnight, are one response to the criminalization of vehicle homelessness. Using a mixed-methods research design (n = 37), this study explores barriers to emergency shelters for people experiencing vehicle homelessness and the potential impact of safe parking lots. Our findings indicate that safety is a major concern for this population and safe parking lots have the potential to improve perceptions of safety.

KEYWORDS:

• Vehicle homelessness
• safety
• safe parking lots

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Colorado Safe Parking Initiative participants, volunteers, and staff for their input and partnership.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the University of Denver Grand Challenges.