‘Van life’: Orillia girl seeks assist for distinctive way of life

Confronted with more and more tough rental conditions, an Orillia girl has discovered an unconventional housing resolution that works for her, and he or she’s hoping metropolis council could make it simpler for others to hitch in.

Because the remaining day of 2019, Valerie Verhey has been dwelling in her dice van, which she has transformed right into a tiny condominium on wheels that boasts an array of facilities.

Over the previous three years, she has regularly turned it right into a useful dwelling house that features a propane range, oven and heating, spray-foam insulation, a sink, and extra.

“It mainly simply began out as a luxurious tent (with) tenting gear,” Verhey stated. “Over time, I’ve made it very nice and cozy. I’ve a correct furnace in there now.”

Though Verhey doesn’t view “van life” as a everlasting resolution to the housing disaster, it has helped her, a minimum of, escape a string of more and more untenable rental conditions.

In 2018, when the owner of her earlier condominium bought their place and moved again to their residence nation, Verhey — then a forklift operator within the Higher Toronto Space — was compelled to take a look at different choices.

“I could not afford only a house by myself, (and) it was positively going to be some type of roommate sharing at that time,” stated Verhey, 53. “What I may comfortably afford was changing into an increasing number of deplorable.”

She tried just a few rental choices, together with one the place, unbeknownst to her, an current tenant violated a lease by subletting a room to her, and he or she in the end started working towards placing her residence on the street.

Since transferring into her van, Verhey says she has discovered a brand new sense of freedom.

“Each time you permit your property, you suppose, ‘What did I overlook?’ However when you may have all the things with you in every single place you go, (you) may actually decide up and transfer to Toronto tomorrow,” she stated. “I’ve obtained my home with me.”

Verhey moved to Orillia through the COVID-19 pandemic to be nearer to her mom, who lives in a retirement residence, and he or she has discovered artistic methods to get by.

Via the summer time, her day go to provincial parks grants her entry to Bass Lake Provincial Park, which presents showers and different fundamental facilities.

Via the winter, she has associates, and her mom, to assist present these facilities to her.

A significant subject throughout the van life group, nevertheless, is discovering a spot the place folks can legally park their “houses,” and the story isn’t any totally different in Orillia.

“Within the winter, it’s very tough as a result of there’s the snow-removal subject, so town has banned any in a single day parking on streets, in fact, and in any of their parks, and business areas even have a necessity for that,” Verhey stated. “It’s a little bit of a trick to seek out locations.”

She additionally talked about law enforcement officials, residents, and bylaw officers have inquired about her van and what she is doing, although she has not confronted any authorized penalties for her dice van.

That’s the place Verhey hopes metropolis corridor can assist.

In a letter to council, she requested town regulate and allow folks from the van life group to park their automobiles within the metropolis.

She supplied a number of concepts in her proposal, together with the next:

• A rotating parking schedule, the place automobiles are permitted to park in a single day in sure tons all through the week;
• In a single day parking at particular parks, notably within the winter, which usually have their snow elimination performed earlier within the night;
• A stipulation for builders to doubtlessly embody van life parking areas, much like parkland or inexpensive housing, of their developments;
• Designating a small variety of spots via town for in a single day van life parking;
• Implementing van life parking permits, which may generate income for town.

Council briefly mentioned Verhey’s proposal at its assembly Monday. Whereas it has not but taken any motion, council forwarded the request to town’s inexpensive housing committee.

“This housing disaster is so widespread, it could be fantastic to see Orillia be a frontrunner and provides it a shot,” Verhey stated.

“I feel it may generate some tax {dollars} … by having permits. They may actually get a great good buck on that, and if we are able to present {that a} mannequin’s working right here, perhaps different municipalities will think about (it).”

She stated regulating van lifers in Orillia may save taxpayer cash by lowering wellness checks, for instance, and he or she argues it may carry peace of thoughts to these dwelling in automobiles and in houses across the metropolis.

“… If somebody didn’t know that there was obtainable van life parking, and neighbours turned conscious, then it’s one thing that they’ll direct them in the direction of,” she stated.

In her letter, Verhey additionally made word of her efforts to not solely go away the surroundings round her untouched, however to wash it up, as nicely, and he or she stated many within the van life group are environmentally aware.

“They care about the place they’re. No van lifer’s making hassle the place they’re at, for the truth that they need to be left alone to quietly park,” she stated.

Verhey, who works as a fuel station attendant, stated she typically runs into individuals who specific curiosity in becoming a member of the van life group, given at present’s bills.

Nonetheless, the query of parking deters many, she stated.

“Parking is that one, actually enormous, unsettling factor I can’t overcome,” she stated.

With the price of dwelling skyrocketing, she views dwelling in a car as a viable possibility that may assist forestall folks from changing into homeless.

“I feel a part of why I actually really feel prefer it’s essential for this to be obtainable to folks now could be as a result of it provides them an possibility the place they won’t fall. What if we catch them right here?” she stated.

“If (folks) may see their technique to it, they’d think about it … quite than fall into melancholy and fear about funds and so forth and so forth. Perhaps that’s what results in dependancy. Perhaps that’s what results in well being points, melancholy and anxiousness.”

Though Verhey says she, together with many others dwelling in automobiles, would a lot quite stay in an inexpensive, secure residence, changing automobiles into houses is a viable interim resolution.

“Perhaps we should always think about that, after which (folks) have one thing hopeful and a objective to work in the direction of quite than simply persevering with on that downhill slide,” she stated.

For these excited about studying extra in regards to the van life group, Verhey recommends trying out Project Van Life.

She stated she has additionally arrange a bunch known as Van Life Orillia on the Nextdoor app.