Awaiting eviction for people living in RVs near Lake Merced

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Dozens of people living in RVs are about to lose their parking spaces in San Francisco. The city has ordered people living near Lake Merced to leave in the coming weeks or their vehicles will be towed.

A group demonstrated Tuesday against this imminent eviction.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has installed 4-hour parking signs along Winston Drive, where dozens of RVs are parked, but it has not yet started enforcing them. Residents say they have been warned by the city that their mobile homes will be towed if they do not move by July 2.

Many community members don’t know where they will go next.

“We have lived here for three or four years now. The pandemic has caused us many problems at work. We are not able to pay the rent because it was too expensive,” said a man living in a camper van near the lake, who asked to remain anonymous.

The man and his cousin are among more than 100 families living on Winston Drive.

“Including seniors, people with disabilities, children. We would like to have a place where we can be safe and sound,” he said.

Her cousin said in Spanish that she wasn't sure what they would do once the city started enforcing a four-hour parking restriction.

“We have nowhere to go. We need the city to do something for us, for example giving us some space to park our campers,” the man said.

The two men say they received a notice from the city about repaving the road in three weeks, warning them to move or they will be towed.

The SFMTA created a plan to restrict parking in that area in December, citing issues with sewage and trash disposal, as well as the use of generators near dry grass.

Jennifer Freidenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, says the SFMTA has delayed road work while waiting for the city to open secure parking for RVs.

“There are funds in the budget for secure parking, but the mayor has not opened any secure parking spaces. This has not been a priority. It has taken a back seat,” she said.

The unofficial RV community is right next to San Francisco State University and Lowell High School, and is behind the Stonestown Galleria.

Ron Lenatti lives nearby and is happy to hear about the upcoming app.

“I don't think they should be here.” I understand the issue of homelessness and where to live, but close to a state university, I don’t think it’s an appropriate location,” he said.

But the cousins ​​say they don't understand why they have to move.

“We’re not causing any trouble here. We are cleaning. We don’t say anything to others that might upset them and all that,” the man said.

“They just need a place to park,” Friedenbach said. “That's it. They just need a place to park. It's really not much to ask for given the housing crisis in San Francisco.

KRON4 reached out to the mayor's office to see if there was a future plan for secure RV parking, but did not receive a response in time for this report. The SFMTA said it is working to find a location for a site, but the agency has not said when or where that might be.