The “Punitive Push” on Mobile Homes

Graham Pruss
Karen Cheng
University of Washington

The number of people inhabiting vehicles in public parking has grown significantly during the 21st century in U.S. cities like Seattle, WA. Despite being the most frequently documented form of shelter among people who occupy public space, Seattle and the surrounding King County have few options for long-term vehicle residency and even less that are connected with social services. This article compares official annual reports on the habitation of cars, trucks, vans, or recreational vehicles (RVs) from 2006 to 2018 with an analysis of vehicle residency-oriented parking tickets, impounds, and police auctions in Seattle during this period.