EAST PALO ALTO — East Palo Alto has created an area where people residing in RVs can legally and safely park their campers overnight.
The parking site has been approved by city officials and was spearheaded by Pastor Paul Bains. It has space to accommodate 20 RVs every night that would otherwise face potential legal consequences or be exposed to danger by parking elsewhere.
Besides the parking spots, there are restrooms, showers and laundry service. Classes on financial literacy and healthy eating, among others, are also available to the RV residents.
"All of these classes are helping them to deal with getting them back on that road to self sufficiency," Bains said.
He told KCBS Radio that 34 RV dwellers have signed up for space and, already, 12 have found or will move into permanent housing.
Berkeley and Oakland may launch similar projects with input from Bains.
San Francisco has been debating whether to turn a space near the Balboa Park BART station into a site for RVs to park.