The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Board of Directors made a significant decision last night by advancing Mayor Daniel Lurie’s plan to address RV parking issues in the city, despite the lone dissent from Vice Chair Stephanie Cajina.
The board voted to accept the creation of a refuge parking permit program, which would allow a select number of RV dwellers to park legally on city streets, something that contradicts the proposed ban that seeks to limit RV parking to just two hours.
Mayor Lurie has been advocating for a ban on RV parking that is expected to be voted on by the Board of Supervisors in September. If approved, the five-hour parking limitation will take effect this fall, pushing many RV dwellers into even more precarious situations.
Under the proposed refuge parking permit program, individuals will need to meet specific criteria to qualify for a permit. They must have lived in their vehicle as of May 31, 2025, be actively engaged in services, and be on a waitlist for housing. Furthermore, they will need to sign a yet-to-be-developed “good neighbor policy” and adhere to noise restrictions similar to those imposed on businesses with entertainment licenses.
The permit program will be temporary, lasting six months with a possible six-month extension, after which the expectation is that RV residents find permanent housing. This plan has drawn criticism from advocates who argue that the timeline is insufficient given the current housing crisis.
Eleana Binder, policy director for GLIDE’s Center for Social Justice, expressed her concerns, stating, “When someone’s home could be towed, a permit is extremely high-stakes. We are asking for thought and care in this policy. There are not enough housing resources available for everyone, and finding units that take subsidies takes time.”
Despite the support from the majority of the Board of Directors, the decision sparked outrage among RV dwellers and their advocates. Approximately 50 individuals gathered at the public meeting to voice their frustrations and plead for more compassionate solutions. Many shared stories of the challenges they face living in vehicles, highlighting the fear of losing their homes if the ban goes into effect.
An emotional testimony was provided by Samuel Ventura, who, along with his wife and young daughter, is living in an RV without a motor. He expressed the dire conditions they face, sharing, “I don’t have steady work right now, and this is the only way I can provide a roof over my daughter’s head. I don’t want my daughter to realize the fear of not having a roof over her head.”
Advocates for RV dwellers pointed out that many individuals living in vehicles are immigrants facing significant vulnerabilities. Losing a home can make them targets for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and supporters have noted a marked increase in ICE arrests across San Francisco over the past few months.
A rally against the proposed parking ban occurred earlier outside City Hall, with about 100 supporters attending, demanding better solutions for the RV community. By the end of the meeting, many supporters left feeling disappointed and uncertain about their futures.
Armando Bravo Martinez, a resident living in an RV for the past two years, lamented, “It’s far from compassionate, I’ll tell you that much. They don’t want to see us; they want to make us disappear.”
The mayor’s office is attempting to address the housing crisis with initiatives including 115 housing subsidies and 130 hotel vouchers for RV dwellers. However, with over 400 individuals currently residing in vehicles in San Francisco, these resources fall significantly short of what is needed, leaving more than 150 people without an alternative housing plan.
With the impending RV parking ban and the new permit program for a select few, advocates continue to demand comprehensive policies that genuinely address the needs of those living in their vehicles.
image source from：missionlocal
