You've heard of landlords before, but how about 'van-lords?' It's a term that L.A. city council members are using to describe what they say is an unchecked and dangerous piece of the ongoing homeless crisis.
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Council member Traci Park filed a motion that passed unanimously on Tuesday, asking the L.A. city attorney to begin drafting language for new local laws that would help regulate and prevent 'van lording.'
While the term may be new to some, Park told KNX News reporter Craig Fiegener, "It's not new to many of us in the city of Los Angeles, particularly in Venice."
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She said, "The phrase refers to these individuals that are renting out, in many cases, unsafe inoperable vehicles as dwelling units."
The concern is not only about illegally parked vans or RVs; according to Park, the 'van-lords' frequently threaten and intimidate residents to extort rent payments out of them, "preying upon many of our most vulnerable community members."
Park said the goal is to amend L.A. municipal code to put guard rails in place regulating the sale and lease of vehicles as dwellings. The laws would also require 'van-lords' to pay for the relocation of those living in the vans.
According to the latest report from LAHSA, of the people currently homeless in Los Angeles County, 14,096 live in oversized vehicles or RVs.
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