Vehicle Living in Los Angeles: An Ethnography of Homelessness, Home, and the Local Politics of Criminalization and Care

As housing becomes less affordable, more and more people are turning to vehicles for shelter. Municipalities have largely reacted by criminalizing sleeping in vehicles. In response, “Safe sleep” programs, which enable vehicles residents to park in a secured lot with access to bathrooms and social services, have been developed. Doctoral student in sociology Samuel Lutzker will examine the experiences of vehicle residents, including how they navigate their criminalization by local governments and targeted social service programs. He will conduct participant observation, interviews, archival research, and a survey for his study.