Man living in transit van in a car park

[CarParkWorries]

I'm not sure what to do to help, or if anything should be done so looking here for help please!

I live in town, residential area, lots of amenities. There is a car park near my house that is quite isolated and usually very quiet.

there is a person living in a transit van in the car park, and they've been there almost a week. I’ve seen the man walk around a few times and get back in. It occasional drives off, but returns shortly after. The van has lights on and the engine runs periodically.

I’m concerned for his welfare as it’s obviously freezing at the moment, but I’m not in a position to help personally.
What can be done to help this person? Any Local council services or the police for a welfare check?

Or should I mind my own business and leave him alone?

I wouldn't tell the police. Sometimes they are obliged to just move homeless people on and that won't help him.

Check and see if there is a local homeless charity near you and give them a call. We have one in our town. They can reach out to the person and sign post them to the correct help.

Your local housing authority may be a good starting point as I think the policy for a lot of them is that when it drops to freezing they offer all homeless temporary accommodation. Whoever owns the land will be entitled to vacant possession. If private car park they might just use common law powers to move him on but LA will usually seek a possession order

Thank you that's a good idea. I'll see what's available without police involvment. I know living off grid is a choice for some people... it's just this is a bit of a crappy car park and I'd be surprised if this was their choice!

https://thestreetlink.org.uk/

You can report street sleepers here and they try and put the person in touch with services to help them

How about talking to him and asking if he would like any help. Lots of people embrace van life as a positive choice.

Living in a van/car counts as rough sleeping (unless it is a converted van, in which case it is regarded as likely to be a traveller) so your local rough sleeping support service are likely to offer support or be able to direct the person to other support services. You can request support here - https://thestreetlink.org.uk this works for all local authority areas.

Dies your local council have a number you can contact?

It's often not such a positive choice for the rest of society though.

A lot of people choose to live in vans these days but their vans are often well-equipped....for some reason a page called VanLife keeps popping up on my Facebook feed.

Does this guy's van look comfortable and kitted out?

As others have said local councils usually have a homeless/rough sleepers service that you can contact and they'll either visit him to offer help or may already know about him

If he's got a quiet park-up and he's been there a week without upsetting anyone or getting moved on, think very hard before contacting anyone official (council, police). There's a real risk he'll just get moved on and have to find somewhere else. There are precious few places where you can park up without just your presence offending the NIMBYs.

Speak to a local housing/homeless charity and perhaps they can make an informal approach to see if he's ok. My guess is that if he's on his own he'll have moved on in a few days.

He's probably just been kicked out by his wife because of a Christmas/new year row and will be forgiven in a few days and back at home. I see it all the time where I live, and my SIL even did it to her husband a couple of times.

I know it CAN be a choice to live in a van... but this is a bog standard, fairly small white transit van. No windows. He runs the engine, presumably to keep warm. It's unlikely this is a traveller or a nomad lifestyle choice who lives on the road.

I live in one of 2 houses which are pretty close to the car park so I can tell if the engine is running, the lights are on etc.

I haven't reported it but it is very unusual for someone to spend so much time in a van. Especially in this weather. It has been snowing.

I assumed it was someone who had been kicked out over Christmas and would go back home at some point... but he's sill there. I'm starting to think it might be more sinister! Why else do people hide in unsuitable living conditions in extreme weather, in an isolated spot.

Why do you assume it is something sinister? He probably has housing issues and cant find/afford anywhere.

Glad to read that you are showing concern and hope you can find an appropriate group who can contact him.

this is a bog standard, fairly small white transit van. No windows. He runs the engine, presumably to keep warm. It's unlikely this is a traveller or a nomad lifestyle choice who lives on the road.

That’s a very strange conclusion you’ve come to, that because the van is a bog standard white transit van with no windows it can’t be a camper van???
Why? Why is unlikely he’s a van lifer?

And running the engine will be to charge the batteries to allow charging of phone / laptop / tv / heater etc.

If they’re not causing you bother, and you’re not willing to go ask if they need any help, please just leave them be.
And if you’re that interested go get informed via van life on FB. Due to COL huge numbers of people have no choice but to live in vehicles - and no, there’s no help out there for them.

I'm starting to think it might be more sinister! Why else do people hide in unsuitable living conditions in extreme weather, in an isolated spot.

You feel threatened, that's understandable. There's someone you don't know, living in a manner you can't understand, and they're within the area you consider your extended safe space.

People choose isolated spots to park-up in because they're less likely to get moved on. If there are residential properties vaguely nearby they feel safer through proximity.

I know someone who lives in an unconverted Transit van. He refuses to live anywhere else - has a pile of problems but does see healthcare professionals every so often.

What can anyone do if that's a person's determined choice?

We have a country park close to us where I walk my dog and there is a camper van there every morning as if someone is permanently living there. I also walk in a small wood close to my home and was really startled to see a tent pitched there this week. Very sad as it has been so cold. I haven't reported despite the woods being private land.

You could take him a cup of hot soup or a hot meal.

I'm starting to think it might be more sinister!

Oh leave him be, he's not doing you any harm.

I don’t think it’s an unreasonable conclusion I’ve come too… the inside of the van doesn’t look equipped with any comforts, just a bare floor. And he is sitting in the front cab for large portions of the day.

But you’re right I have no understanding of van lifers. I’m not in a position to help him if needed, my own health isn’t great, I have no knowledge of homeless welfare and no resources to offer. Unfortunately as a lone woman in a fairly isolated area, I wouldn't feel safe to approach his van

I feel desperately sad if this man is there through hard times but I respect it may be a choice.

I guess my post is asking how to help, without causing him any harm. He’s not causing me any nuisance so I will leave him be. That doesn’t stop me from wondering if he’s ok.