The 'Vanlord' Providing Shelter to L.A.'s Homeless

A creative rental industry has emerged in Los Angeles as the affordable housing crisis grows.

2 minute read

July 16, 2019, 10:00 AM PDT

By Camille Fink


Parked Van

remediate.this / Flickr

Madeleine Pauker reports on Venice’s "vanlord," a man who rents out a small fleet of vans for housing in the Los Angeles neighborhood:

The vanlord’s name is Gary Gallerie. He lives in a van in Venice and rents out another 14, most of which don’t run. Bearing bumper stickers that proclaim "Van life is not a crime," they sit in front of the neighborhood’s multimillion dollar homes for weeks at a time.

As more residents struggle with housing affordability in Los Angeles and the state, the number of homeless people living in vehicles is on the rise. Overnight parking in Los Angeles lots is available in places through a safe parking program, but space is limited and vehicles need to be moved each morning.

For $300 a month, Gallerie provides space in vans parked on residential streets in Venice and handles the logistics. "Van tenants have the keys to the back doors of the vehicles but do not have keys to the ignition and are unable to drive the vans. Gallerie moves the vans that run when necessary and pays to tow the non-operational vehicles to new locations," writes Pauker.

Neighbors and neighborhood groups have complained about the vans parked on city streets, and living out of vehicles is prohibited in many parts of Venice and allowed during the day in some areas. "The police have to see signs of someone living in the vehicle to enforce the restriction, however," writes Pauker.

Tuesday, July 9, 2019 in Santa Monica Daily Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight