Moving Into Cars
Camera: Mike Remmert
Editor: Patrick A. Hafner
00'02
One can imagine having a holiday in a motor-home. However, having to live in a motor-home is much harder. The camper is perhaps the only thing that still remains as part of the American Dream.
00'17
When the Clement’s house was taken by the bank, they gave away their old furniture and drove to Southern California. Since then they’ve lived within 13 square meters and are constantly on the move. Most of the time they live in car parks.
00'35
OT David Clement, Former Wood Workers
Who don’t want to live on the beach? A house with a sea view like this would cost millions; for us it is free. I pay no taxes and rent nothing. I just go out and there it is.
00'49
Open
00'52
Since the beginning of the mortgage crisis, one and a half million Americans lost their homes. Life at the roadside means a big change. The electricity now comes from a noisy generator and the water is drawn from the public toilets at the beach.
01'13
The reason that this family have ended up here is due to large debt: larger than the value of their house. As a result, the father who works as a forester lost credit and could no longer afford the house.
01'27
OT Jennifer Clement, housewife
The estimated value of our house went to 120,000 U.S. dollars within a month. After losing all the money, we literally landed on the street and were forced to live in our caravan. At the time I said to my husband: I’ve never been in a situation as bad as this. I even considered divorce.
01'53
Open
01'54
Since the mortgage crisis, the streets are filled with people for whom cars have become dwellings. But sleeping in a car in California is illegal. Shaw Talley works for a small social project that attempts to combat this issue.
02'10
Shaw OT
Here we have, one, two, three vehicles. These people live all on the road and play cat and mouse with the police.
02'20
Open
02'23
OT Shaw Talley, social worker
Many people have bought caravans because they could no longer cope with their mortgages. When the bank repossessed their houses, they were forced into their cars. Now they have to revaluate how to survive. They move around constantly in search of showers and cooking facilities, and continually ask where they can find propane or drinking water. Their homes suddenly have wheels.
02'49
Open
02'53
Barbara Harvey is 54 years old and has lived in her Honda for two months. Her case as a victim of the U.S. housing crisis is particularly unique as she was one of the civil lawyers who authorised risky loans.
03'13
OT Barbara Harvey, former notary
As a public lawyer, I recorded loans for mortgage buyers. When the financial mortgage crisis in America began, the orders for loans came flooding in but eventually came to a halt. That was my only income. Six weeks later I was out of my house.
03'43
Now, Barbara Harvey wants to show everyone how poorly she lives.
03'49
Barbara OT
This is my house, and it was my house for seven years.
03'53
A rented apartment with four large rooms, it has everything. There was no insurance on this house.
04'00
Barbara OT
Those were the good times when I still lived here.
04'03
Today, Barbara is dependent on the help of others.
04'09
OT Barbara Harvey, former notary
I knew that I had a home, where I could relax or even a cup of tea. There is now no longer a place of mine. I'm in the car or in the office or at a friend from time to time. I have no home.
04'29
Open
04'32
Social worker Shaw Talley is open every day to help people who are the "mobile homeless". David Clements above all else wants a new job.
04'45
Shaw Talley OT
How’s your new job?
OT David Clement
Yes, it quite good.
04'52
The truth is: So far it is only temporary. If you have no permanent residence address, it can easily break an employer’s trust.
04'59
Open: "It fell through."
05'01
It is a vicious circle: Without a job - no home. Without an apartment - no job.
05'06
Shaw Talley, social worker
This is a serious problem. If you do not always have money, you can’t, for example, go grocery shopping, because the refrigerator is not working. There are 1000 things that make life complicated. These people are constantly busy just to survive. Securing an apartment or finding a job is almost impossible, because they have no time.
05'31
Open
05'35
Rick Sebald has solved one of the problems of everyday life. He has lived in a campervan for 25 years and is happy on the road in Southern California. He gets power from wind and solar energy.
05'50
OT Rick Sebald, technology Freak
All the energy is back.
05'58
I have taken 4 batteries from a golf-cart. This is my refrigerator. In other words, the sun and wind keep my food fresh. I find that pretty cool.
06'13
Rick has expanded his old Dodge and saves on rent. Since he suffers an immune deficiency, he can only work irregularly. But he has made arrangements.
05'50
OT Rick Sebald, technology Freak
06'27
Rick Sebald OT
Being by yourself is not fun. I don’t particularly like this lifestyle but there are not many women. Unless they are in a similar situation. But you learn to deal with it. The key in life is, be satisfied with what we have.
06'47
Former lawyer Barbara Harvey goes to her sleeping-quarters. It has one of the few parking spaces where you can stay overnight, without offending the police. This zone is part of the "Safe Parking Program" created by the city administration and the church.
07'09
I sleep back here. During the day I have the bags back there.
07'20
The dogs must sleep in the car. She still has much from her old life.
07'28
Here are my clothes that I could take. The rest is stored. I never had many clothes. That was perhaps a good idea. Some women have a big wardrobe. My clothes need to be renewed. It is a bit grubby. But now they are the least of my worries.
07'53
Open
07'55
Rick Sebald is getting on well. He sometimes works as a chauffeur for a limousine rental firm. He hasn’t told anyone that he lives in a campervan.
08'16
No, nobody knows where I live. Not even my boss knows where I live. This protects me from ridicule.
08'34
He only speaks to us because Europe is very far from here.
08'40
Social worker Shaw Talley finishes the day with a personal success. He has found an apartment for his protégé Cathy.
08'51
Open
08'53
After five long years on the street Cathy Lopez found a place in a social hall. Today, she exchanged a car seat for a mattress.
09'02
Open
Whoa – check out that bed!
09'08
Today she’s found a happy ending: the American dream of a self-determined life.
09'17
OT Cathy Lopez, the former cleaning power
I was for a while at the bottom. As Shaw says, I start again from very beginning. I again have a key.
09'26
Open
09'33
For Cathy, the nightmare has ended.
Tonight, in Santa Barbara, 500 others are still sleeping in their cars.
09'47
END