One Arizona Couple Is Technically Homeless, Despite Having A Home

Homelessness is one of the largest issues facing America today. In 2024, over 770,000 people across the United States were considered homeless, and that number has grown exponentially every year.

If you have a home, consider yourself lucky, but even a roof over your head isn't enough to convince the state of Arizona you're not homeless.

A New Way of Living

Around seven years ago, in 2018, Mary and Steve Drummond sold their home. The Arizona couple wanted a change of pace, and decided to sell their home. They didn't move homes, or even cities, but instead elected to live in their RV, allowing for a much more bohemian state of mind.

Things got bad for the couple in 2020, when the two became seriously ill with COVID-19. They tried to keep up, but the medical bills and credit card payments became too much to bear. By 2022, no other option remained but declaring bankruptcy.

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Homeless with a Home

Luckily for the two, it wasn't (supposed to be) rock bottom yet. Arizona has a nifty little Act known as the Homestead Act, which protects homes up to a certain amount when  someone files for bankruptcy. Unfortunately, in February 2024, the state decided that motorhomes were not considered a type of homestead, and cut their protection.

This meant that the Drummonds would lose their RV, the only form of housing they had left. Almost a year after the Drummonds found they'd be losing their RV, a glimmer of hope appeared. State Senator Frank Carroll pushed forward SB1540, which would include protection for motorhomes, houseboats, travel trailers, and other forms of shelter to ensure no one is being left to hang dry.

[NBC12][Arizona SB1540]