This is a 1 August 2025 video.

When I heard about and read the new Executive Order on Homelessness last week, I immediately knew it would have a devastating impact on van life folk and anyone living or even sleeping in a vehicle in public areas. It would not only make it nearly possible to boondock in many cities, but it would criminalize doing so, causing tremendous financial hardship on the many who could not afford to pay for campsites or RV parks.Additionally and even more frightening it could potentially deprive folks liv8ng in vehicles of their very freedom. In this video I address some of those concerns. If you are also concerned or will be impacted let me know in the comments.

https://youtu.be/iKElq59ZBk4

What’s Inside Trump’s New Executive Order on Homelessness

This is a 30 July 2025 video.

In the United States, more than 770,000 people were reported living homeless on a single night in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

President Trump recently issued an executive order to curb homelessness. The order encourages measures that have come under criticism, including involuntary commitment for people suffering from severe mental health issues. Donald Whitehead Jr. is the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss his first-hand experience of homelessness, and why he opposes the administration’s approach.

https://youtu.be/6cOtjM-XH8k

President Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets” on July 24, 2025. The order signals a shift in federal homelessness policy, emphasizing a “tougher” response to chronic homelessness compared to cities that focus on the “housing first” model.

Key Provisions:

The order aims to make it easier for states and cities to remove people living in outdoor encampments and move them into treatment for mental illness or addiction, including potentially using involuntary civil commitment in cases where individuals are deemed a risk to themselves or others.

It calls for reallocating federal funding to prioritize cities that actively crack down on illicit drug use, urban camping and loitering, and urban squatting.

It ends federal support for policies that employ the “housing first” model, which prioritizes getting people into stable housing before offering treatment, according to KUOW.

It also directs the Attorney General to reverse rules that limit municipalities’ abilities to relocate homeless people.

Criticism:

Critics of the order, such as the National Coalition for the Homeless, argue that it represents a punitive approach that has historically failed to solve homelessness and can exacerbate the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals. They highlight the potential for the order to infringe upon civil rights and disregard due process protections related to involuntary confinement. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund states that the order promotes policing and institutionalization and pressures service providers to use these costly, punitive methods instead of proven strategies like “housing first” programs.

Historical Context:

In 2023, President Trump stated, “We will use every tool, lever, and authority to get the homeless off our streets. We want to take care of them, but they have to be off our streets”. Previous executive orders included directing the clearing of homeless encampments on federal lands in Washington D.C., establishing a center for homeless veterans, and investing in initiatives to prevent homelessness among young people aging out of the foster care system. 

Regarding Images of the Executive Order Signing:
Several news reports indicate that the executive order was signed without fanfare or in front of cameras. Therefore, widely available images of President Trump signing this executive order on homelessness are unlikely. However, you can find still images of homeless encampments and related issues that are used by various media outlets in their reporting on the order. Some articles feature images of President Trump, though not specifically of this signing.