Is the city of Los Angeles planning to convert a parking lot across from a high school in Encino into a camp for homeless people to live in 125 RVs? No, that's not true: The proposal to use a train station parking lot would provide temporary storage space for RVs after the homeless owners move off the street and into other housing, according to a planning report and an advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Providing the storage is important in convincing some of those who own the estimated 4,000 RVs parked along Los Angeles streets to accept the city's offer, according to a planning report.
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) shared on NextDoor.com on August 14, 2025 under the title "NEW HOMELESS RV PARKING!!". It opened:
Neighbors- just FYI- the City of LA has quietly approved a plan to lease the MTA parking lot on the corner of Victory & Balboa, to allow UP TO 125 RVs FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE!!! ACROSS THE STREET FROM BIRMINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL!!!
This is what the post looked like at the time of writing:
(Source: screenshot by Lead Stories of NextDoor.com)
The Encino proposal is for the Balboa Orange Line Station parking lot, near the intersection of Victory and Balboa Boullvards. This is at a corner opposite from Birmingham Community High School.
(Source: screenshot of Google Maps by Lead Stories)
Free temporary storage for their RV is key to convincing unhoused RV occupants to accept the city's offer to get them off the street and into other housing, according to page 9 of the mayor's August 1, 2024 report (archived here) to the city council, titled "PILOT RV-TO-HOME PROGRAM IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 7; COMPREHENSIVE CITYWIDE STRATEGY FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING RECREATIONAL VEHICULAR HOMELESSNESS":
This resource would be offered to individuals that are transitioning to interim housing, yet hesitant to completely relinquish their RV. To help individuals adjust to life without their vehicles and to avoid unnecessary storage issues, stored vehicles would remain off limits to the owner, until a final decision is made. Length of temporary storage would be determined on an individual basis; however, it is not to exceed two to three months.
The storage lot would not include electrical outlets or meals, and the space between the vehicles would be tight. A guard booth would be erected and staffed to protect the RVs and prevent anyone from living in them.
The city of Los Angeles is experimenting with creating areas for homeless people using RVs, but with far less density than the proposed Encino storage lot. Unlike the planned Encino storage lot, the pilot project lot includes electrical outlets, toilets, showers, and free meals for the RV residents. CBS News reported on this in August 2025 in this video (archived here):
