This B.C. woman decided to live in an RV. Her village said no

A Valemount, B.C., resident is worried about finding adequate, affordable housing after her application to live in an RV on her friend’s property for the next three years was denied by village council. 

Michele Hayman, 62, bought a used RV in 2023 when she found herself in need of a place to live after being evicted from her rental home, where she had lived for 10 years. Her friend, Sherral Shaw, offered to let her park the RV on her property and got utilities hooked up. They even worked together to winterize the RV. 

Three years ago, the village implemented a policy allowing RVs to be used as temporary housing for up to four years, as Trans Mountain pipeline workers arrived on the scene looking for somewhere to stay. 

Though Hayman was not a pipeline worker, she figured she’d still be OK to live in an RV. 

“It wasn’t only just workers, you know, at the time that were coming in here,” Hayman told CBC’s Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk. “The affordable housing just wasn’t there. And so residents of the valley were making those choices as well.”

But the village repealed the policy in May this year. 

“I was very surprised because I was under the impression that there was still two years available, you know, to live under that bylaw,” Hayman said.

In an emailed statement to CBC News, the village’s chief administrative officer, Anne Yanciw, said the policy was repealed as Trans Mountain construction wrapped up and housing was no longer an issue. 

“Most RVs are not intended as permanent residences in our climate and … some of the modifications made can often create health and safety risks,” she said, pointing out an RV fire near Valemount in March that, according to local newspaper the Rocky Mountain Goat, left two people dead.  

“To best protect the public, it is appropriate to now repeal the policy.”

Hayman and Shaw then applied for a temporary permit, asking for three years of living in an RV on the property. 

It was denied during a July 9 council meeting. 

According to a report prepared for village council by a city planner, the fire department said there was a fire hazard related to “additional heating sources being installed.”

But Hayman claims no one has been to her place for an inspection.

“That’s what really surprised me,” she said. “The heating source that I have is propane, like just about every other RV there is.”

During the July council meeting, Coun. Pete Pearson said council had already decided to no longer allow people to live in RVs. 

“I think there are other options,” Pearson said. 

But Hayman said she’s struggling to find a place to live before she has to leave her home on Aug. 12. 

“The ones that are available, most of them are not even affordable at this time for me,” she said. 

“I want to live in this valley and stay here. It’s beautiful. And given the way the town is right now opening its doors [to wildfire evacuees], that’s the people that live here, you know, they’re generous and they’re giving and helping others always. And I want to be a part of that community.”