Is Living in an RV considered Homeless?

According to statistics, nearly 1 million people are living in an RV in America. So now, the question arises, Is living in an RV considered homeless? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not a simple yes or no, as it depends on your camper’s state, location, and living conditions.

But let’s dive further and analyze this situation thoroughly. This article contains extensive research on the subject to let you know if your RV is classified as a home. Read below to know more:

Table of Contents

Living in a Home

A home is considered a place that provides comfort, nighttime shelter, and a permanent place to live in. Typically renting or owning an apartment has certain monthly expenditures. They include, but are not limited to:

Electric bill
Gas bill
Water bill
Rent

So that now we know what the definition of home is, we can understand the following terms:

Homeless person:

A homeless person is one that does not have a permanent residency, accommodation, or nighttime bedding and comfort of a place.

Usually, a homeless person lives in the following:

Footpath
Bench
Park
Car

Yup, I did write car in my blog post, but is an RV considered a car too? Is living in an RV considered homeless too?

You can get the answers to your questions by reading more.

Living in an RV

Living in an RV is an experience preferred by a lot of individuals, especially those who hop from one place to another. But is living in an RV considered homeless? Well, the answer is no.

Living in an RV is not considered homeless; however, living in a car does.A car, truck, or vehicle that does not provide the basics of living is not considered a home.

For example, if the truck does not have a bed, mattress, cooking stove, kitchen place, or bathroom, then the vehicle is not called home.

But regarding an RV or a campervan, especially one that is designed to fulfill every need according to your home, it is sure a home. Living in an RV is divided into two further types of experience that people prefer:

Stationary RV living:

A stationary RV living is one where the person lives in a permanent place or location and uses it as a full-time home. A stationary RV is like a home parked in the campground or RV park.

Thus, with stationary RV living, you do have permanent residency customized to fulfill the needs of a home. The experience is as much similar to owning a home as it could be.

Travel RV living:

While traveling, the experience of RV living can change drastically. As you have to month from one place to another, You are mostly on the road.

Travel RVs are mostly parked on the campground on one day, but on another, they are somewhere else. So you don’t have a constant place in your mind and experience a lot of adventure too.

But travel RV living also offers you the safety of a bed, stove, bathroom, closet, and more.And thus, the answer to question, “are you considered homeless if you live in a van?” is no.

It’s easier to travel in an RV than to move across hotels all around the world.

Is Living in an RV considered homeless?

Rv or a camper van is considered chiefly a home and also requires home tax to pay. However, some conditions apply in considering an RV as a home.

These conditions are:

If you are living in an RV full-time with family and kids and it is definitely considered a home
The home tax also depends on the size of your RV. If it falls into the luxury big-size camper, then there are more chances of qualifying it as a home.
If your RV is parked on the camper grounds and RV, it is surely considered a home. But if you use it for travel purposes and seasonal occasions and park it across the camping areas, then you are good to go.

Now that you know the primary concept of home and homelessness, you can analyze your situation accordingly.

Is living in an RV considered homeless in the USA?

Homelessness is spreading day by day in the USA. Since Covid-19, more people have been living on the streets, and now they have occupied subways, streets, parks, and abandoned buildings. Some homeless people also use abandoned RVs and cars as their homes.

So, if you are living in the USA with your own RV or a rented RV and in a habitable environment, you are not considered homeless. But if you are moving your stuff from day to day and do not have a primary location or even a primary RV with a habitable environment, you are considered homeless.

Homeless VS. Houseless

More and more people are intrigued with the idea of family living in an RV, but that doesn’t mean they are homeless. On the contrary, most people like to consider it more as houseless rather than homeless.

Being houseless sounds acceptable of their living condition because they do have a home to live in. Instead of an apartment, flat, or house, they chose to live in an RV.

Campervan or RV may not sound like a home to some, but it is a home to owners, a place they are comfortable in, and a safe space they can call home.

Quick Takeaway:

The answer to your question, ” Is living in an RV considered homeless?” is fairly simple. If you think your RV is home and provides every necessary accommodation, it is certainly classified as a home.

But, if you are using it for mini adventures and seasonal necessities, then it is not a home.

Moreover, different states and countries have laws that accept people living in an RV as a home. So, you are good to go to make your RV as comfortable as possible.

FAQ of “Is living in an RV considered homeless?”

Is living in an RV cheaper than renting?

Yes, living in an RV is cheaper than renting an apartment if you own a camper van. But, if you have to pay the rent of the RV, then more or less the price will be equal. The correct answer can also be analyzed by comparing rates of the apartments in your area and nearby RV on rent.

Are you considered homeless if you live in an RV?

You are considered homeless if you live in an RV only when the living conditions are not habitable. But otherwise, if your RV contains a bed, stove, and other essential commodities, it is classified as a home.