With over 1,000 individuals and families living on the streets of San Francisco in vehicles serving as makeshift homes, Mayor Daniel Lurie has implemented a new plan to address the housing crisis. The housing crisis, referring to a significant portion of the population struggling to access safe, adequate, and affordable housing, is marked by a mismatch between housing supply and demand, where there are not enough affordable homes to meet the needs of those who need them. This mismatch has been especially prevalent in areas such as Vancouver, Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. As housing prices spike, homelessness and displacement have grown, and overcrowding has increased.
On June 10, 2025, Lurie imposed a two-hour parking limit for oversized vehicles in an attempt to address the growing number of recreational vehicles (RVs), camp trailers, house cars, and mobile homes being used as temporary homes on the streets of San Francisco. This plan excludes certain oversized commercial vehicles that will be exempt from citations or towing.
In a press release accompanying his announcement, Lurie explained, “No child should grow up in San Francisco forced to live in a car, and no parent should have to raise their child in those conditions.”
On one hand, critics argue that the plan lacks initiatives to ensure sufficient housing capacity and could lead to the displacement and criminalization of vulnerable individuals, particularly immigrant families. For example, End Poverty Tows Coalition expressed skepticism given The City’s limited shelter capacity. They added, “The plan falls significantly short in ensuring those living in RVs have the dignity of a home.”
On the other hand, this new plan should satisfy angered residents who often complained about impaired lines of sight for drivers, illegal dumping, and less on-street parking.