Alternative Emergency Services: Identifying the Specialized Needs of Homeless Vehicle Residency in King County Washington

Abstract

Vehicle residency is a subpopulation of the homeless who primarily live out of their car, RV, or van. In academic literature, homelessness has been highly researched in many fields, but little research has focused specifically on vehicle residency. The purpose of this study is to understand more about what resources vehicle residents need in order to make recommendations to stakeholders. The study conducted seven interviews and one small group interview from vehicle residents. Thematic analysis was used to construct qualitative codes to identify the specialized needs of vehicle residents. The study found two major barriers to accessing resources which were finding safe parking and maintaining their vehicle. Participants of the study recommended that there needs to be more safe lots, services tailored to women, LGBTQ, and housing services. The study concludes that since there are not enough affordable housing options from the time this study was conducted, that alternative emergency services tailored for vehicle residents is necessary. The emergency service the study recommends is safe parking programs where vehicle residents can park safely at night and get connected to services.