SF Tows More RVs Than Provides Housing, Leaving Many Homeless

Months into enforcement, some residents say the new RV permit program is pushing them into deeper instability.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:35am by Ben Kaplan

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San Francisco's Large Vehicle Refuge Permit Program aimed to stabilize vehicle residents while restoring public space, but early results show a stark imbalance: the city has towed 171 RVs under the ordinance and dozens more for other reasons — about three times the number of households placed into housing through the permit program. Residents say the program is removing homes faster than it is replacing them, leaving many without shelter.

Why it matters

The RV permit program highlights the challenges of addressing homelessness in San Francisco, where the lack of affordable housing and resources has forced many to live in vehicles. The uneven rollout of the program has left some residents, particularly immigrants and those in informal living arrangements, without options and at risk of returning to the streets.

The details

The program is largely tied to vehicle registration, meaning assistance often goes to the person on the title, not necessarily the person sleeping inside. This has left secondary occupants like Miguel Mercado without support when the registered owner exits the program. The city has also faced allegations of fraud, with a Homeless Outreach Team worker accused of illegally selling permits for cash. For residents who remain outside the permit system, the two-hour parking rule has led to mounting fines and repeated towing, pushing them further into instability.

  • In November 2025, San Francisco imposed a two-hour parking limit citywide for oversized vehicles to reduce the number of RVs used as shelters.
  • Since enforcement began in November 2025, the city has towed 171 RVs under the ordinance and dozens more for other reasons.
  • In December 2025, Kathia Z. and her husband were placed in a hotel for 90 days through the city's shelter program, but the same day they moved in, their RV was towed.
  • On Feb. 19, 2026, Kathia, her husband and their newborn were moved into another shelter run by Compass, where they could remain for another 90 days.
  • LVRP permits are set to expire by April 2026 but could be extended for up to six additional months for eligible residents.

The players

Miguel Mercado

A 58-year-old Nicaraguan immigrant who had been living in a friend's RV for nearly three years, but was left without shelter when the RV was towed and the owner qualified for housing through the permit program.

Kathia Z.

A pregnant woman who believed the permit program would provide her family with a lasting housing opportunity, but instead was placed in temporary shelters after her RV was towed.

Bob Kauffman

A 70-year-old man who has three vehicle homes and has spent roughly $4,000 on impound and towing fees since the enforcement of the two-hour parking rule began.

José Arámbula

A 48-year-old man who lost his trailer, which he had been living in for nearly a decade, when it was towed, leaving him and his dog to sleep in a small car.

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco, who claims the RV permit program is producing results by reducing the number of RVs in the city.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.