It’s a motor home. But as far away from a holiday as you can imagine.

With foreclosures sweeping the nation, more and more families are being forced out of their homes into their only other major possession, their vehicles.

Close to 42 percent of homeless people spend any given night unsheltered. And in many cases, these are people living in their cars as a last stop before the streets.

Obviously, living in a car is uncomfortable at best. It’s also dangerous and illegal in most states. People living in their cars keep moving to avoid raising suspicion or attracting attention. And if their vehicle is ever towed or impounded, they often can’t afford to retrieve it, leaving them (and their families) without any sort of shelter.

A growing problem

It’s estimated that over the course of 2010 and 2011, more than 1.5 million people will become homeless. Many of these people have jobs but still can’t afford a place to live. These “working homeless” actually constitute one of the fastest-growing populations in our country.

Our Goal

There’s no easy way to fix the complex problems that perpetuate homelessness. Our goal is simply to help you look at this old problem in a new way. Honest, hard-working people have fallen on hard times and are now doing the best they can. We hope that providing a more intimate glimpse of this frightening reality will inspire support.

Please contact Anna-Marshall Gauss should you have any questions at agauss@capstrat.com or 919.882.1972.