Sugar House Residents Frustrated Over RVs, Cars Being Lived In On Street

SALT LAKE CITY — Some Sugar House residents have noticed people living in motorhomes and cars on the streets and feel the city has let them down after they expressed concerns about drug activity and sanitation.

“The RVs have been in and out of here for the past year,” said Robert Farrell, who moved into his Sugar House home four years ago.

But he’s noticed there are others who have moved into his neighborhood in their RVs on 600 East near 2100 South.

“I do not think it is fair at all,” Farrell said.

He has been broken into three times since moving here in 2017, and frequently has to call for help with people on drugs in the area or seen sleeping on sidewalks.

“We have seen active drug dealings take place on our streets from people in these RVs,” Farrell said.

Ferrell began emailing Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall in January 2020, and has sent at least six additional emails since about the crime and people living in their cars.

“I have contacted the mayor’s office, as well as my council person Amy Fowler, many times. No response,” Farrell said.

But KSL-TV got a response from Mendenhall’s office on Thursday, which read:

“Neighborhood requests around occupied vehicles and RVs present a unique challenge for the city in balancing the needs of residents while also addressing the needs of individuals living without permanent housing solutions.

“While the city does issue a notice to these vehicles, ultimately it cannot impound ones that are occupied.”

“The mayor’s office has no plans to enforce parking standards or camping standards on people living in our neighborhood,” Farrell said.

Despite the 48-hour public parking ordinance in Salt Lake City, Farrell said police officers haven’t been enforcing it since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

He said he’s upset that there’s a lack of attention toward helping the unsheltered people get permanent homes.

“This isn’t a Salt Lake City problem — the Wasatch Front is dealing with this,” Farrell said. “I am hopeful to see some better solutions to all parties involved — from homeowners to unsheltered folks living in these conditions like we have.”

Farrell hopes to get some responses from his local leaders soon.

City officials said residents can file complaints by using the SLC mobile app. They can call the non-emergency police line if they need to report anything as well.