Van Dweller Lockdown Statement

Lockdown History

During the Lockdown of 2020, van dwellers were subjected to a lot of hate. This was, for the most part, down to people thinking that we were out for some sort of jolly during a time when the world was being subjected to a pandemic and we were supposed to be at ‘home’ in a government-ordered lockdown. Being in our van, meant that we were at home and adhering to the lockdown, it was just that we lived in on the side of the road in park-ups, driveways, places that would accept us and any place we could find to stay safe.

Now that we, as the British Nation, are once again finding ourselves going into Lockdown again in 2021, we feel that by creating this dedicated page with a statement, it will help you understand our situation and we hope that you will choose to be kind and supportive of our situation. Just like everyone, we want to be safe too.

Permanent or Full-time Van Dwellers

Some of us full-time van dwellers live in our van by choice. Some of us do so as the only option available to us without becoming homeless. Either way, the van that we live in permanently, is the only place we have called home. When there is no pandemic ruling our lives, those who live the lifestyle out of choice, are free to roam the country and park where they like and enjoy life with the freedom of not having a mortgage. Those who were forced to move into a van as the only safe option available to them, are all living with different situations; some are embracing the lifestyle, some are still working where possible, some are out of work looking for work, some have part-time jobs, some have nothing but their van left. Please be a little understanding. Please show some support. Please get chatting with us. You'll find out that every one of us who live in a van exists just as human as the next person.

#SupportVanLifers

During the first Lockdown (2020), a hashtag was created by a full-time van dweller who goes by the handle ‘Liam The Terrible’. Contrary to his handle, he is not Terrible by the person or by nature. The hashtag has become very popular within the van life community and is slowly also becoming pretty popular by people who don't live in a van but nonetheless want to show their support. The #SupportVanLifers Facebook group has been created for anyone to join; the only condition is that you support van dwellers who are living in vans by choice or by the situation. If this is something you feel you would like to be a part of, you'd be most welcome to join the group on Facebook.