City grants temporary exemption to those living in RVs on NE Calgary road

The motorhomes parked on Calgary’s Moraine Road NE can stay for now, says Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot, who explains the city is working on a plan.

That plan includes a space for people living in RVs to park, but it will only be temporary.

Chabot says the city is considering developing a more long-term option in the next three months.

A land use change will be required to certify the cite, he adds.

“I can’t cite the specific location because there’s a number of things that have to be taken into consideration, including communicating with the adjacent businesses, the adjacent residences, any and all folks impacted by it. We also need to talk to our social services folks to make sure that if and when we do find a location, we can provide them with whatever necessary services that may go along with the site location.”

Chabot says the ideal situation would be for those living in motorhomes and trailers to have a place to connect to necessary services.

“We certainly would prefer to have them in a location where they’ve got access to potable water, ability to dispose of their sewage, maybe electricity because winter’s coming and having to rely on internal heat on a RV is challenging at best,” he explained. “Obviously we can’t limit it just to the nine units that are situated on that road, we’ll have to look beyond that because there are a number of other locations where we have similar situations. We’ll have to be able to design it to accommodate more units, how many more is the question.”

Victor LaRock is one of eight RV owners who call the road home. He’s been living there for close to a decade.

READ MORE: Some Calgarians living in RVs as they wait for affordable housing

“We need to be recognized as human beings, we need to have our rights acknowledged and we need to be treated with a little bit of respect,” he said.

He’s been battling the Calgary Parking Authority after it announced plans to place ‘no parking’ signs in the area, leaving the nine people living in the RVs on the road in limbo.

“Right now, there is no place. There’s only one RV park in the entire city it cost $1,200 to $1,500 a month and the RV can’t be more than 10 years old; mine RV’s 40,” he said. “So, what other options do I have, other than living on the side of the road?”

James Wright found himself living in a motorhome after a developer purchased his rental and served him with an eviction notice.

He lives on AISH and says finding a place he can afford has been next to impossible.

“It was the next best option. There’s no affordable housing for someone who’s on a fixed income and homeless shelters are full, rent is outrageous,” he said.

A current bylaw prohibits RVs from being parked on a street next to a person’s house. The RV also can’t be parked there for more than 36 hours.

For now, a temporary exemption has been granted to allow the people living on Moraine Road to stay.