When a 26-year-old Wisconsin bartender and server lost her job amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to keep on moving – literally.
The woman, identified only as Liz by WMTV, decided to trade the $1,200 monthly rent she paid to live in a Madison apartment for a one-time payment of $1,500 to move into a trailer. It has new tires, a heater and measures 10 feet by six feet.
That’s enough room for Liz and her dog to live and to move around every two days in Dane County.
“It was too much,” said Liz of the apartment she could no longer afford when she lost her job. “I didn’t need that much space. On top of that, it ends up just feeling empty sometimes versus this. It has just the right amount of space and coziness for me and my dog.”
She said that she feels like she lives “everywhere and nowhere,” in her new home. Since it does not yet have running water, she has been showering at hotels. Other challenges include complaints from people living near where she is parked and generator issues.
Once she experienced carbon monoxide poisoning from her generator and had to go to the hospital and she is not allowed to park anywhere for more than 48 hours, according to the Madison Police Department website.
Despite these issues, Liz said she doesn’t really miss living in her apartment.
“Once in a while I thought about it, but it’s more I miss the convenience of having a shower at the same place, which I plan on actually having in this one also.”
When WMTV caught up with her Tuesday, Liz, who is now employed, was parked on the west side of Madison.
“Homelessness is a problem in Madison. I will say that, but I do not consider myself to be one of the homeless,” she told the station. “This is my choice. I have a job. I’m continuously working on it, improving my structure, the same as anyone who would get an expansion on their home.”
Liz is even working to build a bar with a roof, air conditioning and running water on a frame that is currently connected to her trailer.
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