LOCAL FEATURE LANDIS HAS ACCUMULATED SEVERAL PARKING TICKETS, DUE TO A LAW REQUIRING HIM TO MOVE HIS CAMPER EVERY 72 HOURS. “WHEN I CAN’T PAY THE TICKET EVERYTHING GETS MESSIER AND HARDER FOR ME,” LANDIS SAID. LANDIS LOOKS FOR A TICKET FROM A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO HAS HARASSED HIM REGULARLY. THE ROAD TO HOUSING MAY BE PAVED WITH RVS For some, an RV offers more security, more costs, and is the only option. PHOTOS AND STORY BY GILES CLASEN THE FIRST NIGHT, homeless in a camper, was not easy for Devine Carter. “It was scary,” Carter said. “It doesn’t sound too bad until you stay outside and you hear the noise of people walking past, talking, and chattering. It was a little unnerving.” There has been a rise in the use of RVs by those experiencing homelessness in Denver. Cars and other vehicles are often the last resort for individuals who become homeless, but RVs are unique because they stand out when parked in Denver neighborhoods. Denver does not have an accurate count of how many individuals are living in vehicles. Carter and her partner Cornelius Jenkins have been living CARTER AND JENKINS RECEIVED PARKING TICKETS BEFORE A FRIEND OFFERED TO LET THEM PARK THEIR RV ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. in their 22-foot trailer for over 18 months. They have had to navigate Denver’s parking laws, deal with a hit-and-run, and respond to Denver’s weather extremes. Still, their trailer has become a home they worked hard to build. Continued on page 6 October 2022 DENVER VOICE 5
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