A judge in Seattle, in a landmark case, has ruled that a homeless man’s vehicle can legally be considered his home and therefore cannot be repossessed in order to satisfy outstanding debts.
Steven Long, who has lived in his truck since 2014, owes over $900 in outstanding parking tickets. But in a ruling based on a 123-year-old Homestead Act, that truck is now legally considered his home. And according to the Homestead Act, a person’s home cannot be repossessed to pay back debts. This ruling is huge for Long and the more than 5,000 homeless people in Seattle who are living out of their cars.
According to the ruling, the city can still ticket a vehicle that has not been moved in 72 hours, but if it is a person’s legal home, they may NOT impound it.
Source: KIRO 7
