Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

As Linda begins her journey in the Squeeze Inn, LaVonne’s van dies in San Diego even though she still owes money on it. Without a place to go, she is forced to stay in the dead van. Desperate, she buys a van with a subprime auto loan, with the hopes of avoiding becoming homeless.

Bruder notes how many of the nomads she profiles don't view themselves as homeless, “They are ‘houseless’ after all. ‘Homeless’ is other people” (202). LaVonne struggles with shame, sharing on social media that she’s been relying upon predatory payday loans to get by. Although people like LaVonne are technically homeless, that term has become synonymous with failure for her. Bob Wells, however, posits that van dwellers are rebels, checking out of the system to follow their own path.

Since 2006, it has become more and more difficult to live outside of traditional housing or shelter. Anti-homeless sentiments and legislation have increased because homeless people threaten the idea of the middle class as a secure and safe way of life. This echoes similar trends that emerged during the Great Depression, but unhoused nomads today don’t assume or think it is possible that they will return to traditional housing during their lifetimes because it is prohibitively expensive.