Van Life Reality Check: Housing Crisis, Homelessness & A Pet Sitting Gone Wrong

In Episode 18 of The Knock: Waking Up Van Life, we sit down with our guest Calista, who has been living in her sedan for the past three years while navigating serious health issues. Despite working and creating jewelry for her Etsy shop, she’s faced the same housing struggles so many Americans are experiencing today.

Her story shines a harsh light on the housing and homelessness crisis. After turning down her family’s offers to couch-surf, she later watched them become unhoused themselves, now living in a tent behind a shopping center while still holding jobs. Together, we dive into how rising rent, stagnant wages, and new policies are pushing vehicle dwellers and the working poor into even harder situations.

We also unpack the realities of van life that many creators won’t talk about:

• The criminalization of homelessness and the crackdown on vehicle dwellers.
• The shrinking access to BLM land and public spaces.
• Why “just go live on BLM land” is no longer a solution for van lifers.

And for the first time on our show, a guest shares how a pet sitting job turned into a nightmare! when a client solicited and physically assaulted Callista, forcing her to defend herself and involve law enforcement.

This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about van life solutions, survival, and the dangerous realities that too many face while trying to live in vehicles, car camp, or simply find safe shelter.

👉 Support Calista’s journey by checking out her Etsy & YouTube.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpQ7swF9Y2xRQe6ncCmjSCA

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/calistatravels

Other Links: https://linktr.ee/misscalihatter

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🚐 Kyla – Don’t get Vanboozled! ⁠⁠

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🚐 Bunny – Beyond the road, beyond the rules, beyond the 🐂 💩⁠

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