Montana Residents Forced to Live in Cars and RVs as Housing Costs Skyrocket

The number of people who have been forced to live in RVs or vehicles parked on city streets has skyrocketed by over 200% in the past few years. This alarming trend is a stark reminder of the rising housing costs many locals cannot afford. 

This has, unfortunately, led to a significant increase in the number of people living in their vehicles as they cannot afford the high housing costs. Since 2020, the city’s unhoused population has grown by a staggering 50%, according to Montana PBS. 

In comparison, rental prices in Gallatin County, where Bozeman is located, shot up by nearly 20% from 2019 to 2022 and continue to rise with each passing year. Many locals opt to live in their vehicles simply because they cannot or do not want to pay the exorbitant prices. 

He continued, “This, with urban camping, RVs, more cars, this is a recent phenomenon.”

However, the surge in the number of people living in RVs and campers within the city’s limits has made the problem more visible. Many locals have voiced concern because they don’t believe the city is doing enough to address the issue. 

“Many contribute to the workforce, send their kids to our local schools, and may not appear ‘homeless’ when you see them at their jobs and in the area.”

This led to a group of business owners suing the city last fall. According to the lawsuit, the city disregards illegal activities, including disturbing the peace, loitering, public intoxication, and drug use. 

“If the city just did what’s in the rule book, we’d be okay. And, like, people wouldn’t be camping on the side of the roads right now,” says Fletcher.

“These trailers are creeping in closer and closer to Chief Joseph and other schools. So, yes, I’m concerned for the adults; I’m concerned for everyone in town. I’m more so concerned for our kids and what’s being allowed,” says Fletcher.

Some owners have claimed that these campers have threatened their employees, while others are worried about ongoing vandalism issues. Environmental concerns, such as removing garbage and human waste, have also plagued these business people.

Hope said, “We can’t even get the cops to come out and basically do anything. Every police officer we talk to, they’ve told us they can’t do anything. They’ve been told to stand down by the city manager and the city attorney.”

In their filed lawsuit, they request the encampments to be put in “more suitable, safe and healthy locations.” These owners aren’t seeking any monetary damages.

These areas can sometimes result in garbage piling up, which further forces Bozeman residents to steer clear of businesses near these urban camps.

Donnie Olsson, a real estate agent who runs a commercial office rental business, explained that he lost anywhere between $75,000 to $100,000 after campers set up shop a block away from one of the office buildings he owns.

“Even though I’ve lost money, I’m not after money,” Olsson explained. “I’d like to see them enforce the current ordinances that are in place, and try to come up with solutions that help everyone out, including the people who don’t have a place to live.”

According to Mayor Cunningham, a part of the problem stems from the city’s inability to determine why an individual has chosen to live in their RV, as residents are not required to disclose that information. 

However, according to Fletcher, this won’t solve the problem. He argues, “They might be moving, but they’re just shuffling. It’s just like, Where’s Waldo today? They’re just shuffling cars and trailers here to this block, to that block.”

I understand they don’t want us on the street, but it’s going to happen until they get livable places for us, or affordable houses for us, or places that we can live.”

Missoula, which is about a three-hour drive from Bozeman, has also been struggling as they’ve seen their homeless population increase in a short time frame.

Instead, the Montana city has seen an increase in tent campers more than anything.

Meanwhile, Bozeman only has a third of that, as about 250 people are considered homeless. The actual number of homeless people who have chosen to camp, rather than stay at shelters, also differs, though analysts do believe this number is in the hundreds in both cities.

As a result of some of their past ideas, policymakers in these Montana towns have learned what doesn’t work. City-sponsored camping is one such idea that has failed.

“The authorized campsite was, I would say, a noble experiment,” Hess explained. “It was an attempt to create a safe, sanctioned campsite where folks living without shelter could camp with access to sanitation and some real basic services.”

“You cannot have a group of unhoused, mental health, drug people gather without accountability and responsibility,” Hicks said. “It will turn into a Wild West show, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Such measures could offer actionable solutions for Bozeman, adapting them to local needs to ensure they address the specific challenges faced by the community.

A thorough economic analysis could quantify these impacts, guiding effective policy measures to mitigate negative effects while supporting both business owners and urban campers.

Strengthening these services could not only aid individuals directly but also relieve some community tensions by providing more comprehensive care.

Bozeman could consider similar initiatives, fostering partnerships between local businesses, non-profits, and the government to create pathways out of homelessness, tailored to fit the unique fabric of the city.

Such sustainable and affordable housing developments could provide stable living conditions for those currently in RVs and vehicles, addressing the root cause of urban camping.

Bozeman could develop targeted educational outreach programs to ensure these children receive consistent schooling and support, similar to initiatives in cities like San Francisco, which provide mobile schooling services and psychological support.

Ensuring that ordinances respect both the rights of urban campers and the broader community requires a balanced approach, possibly through mediated community discussions that include legal experts and human rights advocates.

Implementing designated camping areas with proper sanitation facilities could mitigate these issues.

Promoting stories that highlight both challenges and successful interventions can foster a more compassionate and nuanced view of the issue, encouraging community-wide support for comprehensive solutions.

Analyzing past trends and projecting future changes can help policymakers potentially anticipate the needs of the city’s growing population and the potential escalation of urban camping.

By leveraging funds from both public sources and private investors, Bozeman can create a sustainable financial model to develop affordable housing projects, which would directly address the root causes of urban camping.

Collaborative efforts between the city and these non-profits could be key to developing long-term solutions for the urban camper population.