LEAD

Home Sweet Honda

By Jake Holmes
December 07, 2009



When University senior Drew Johnson goes to bed at night, he doesn't draw a deadbolt or latch his front door. He goes to sleep inside his Honda Civic.

Johnson plans to graduate this December and said the nontraditional decision came because he wanted to save money during his final semester at college. The idea first struck him when he heard about a friend of his parents' who used to live out of a van while traveling the country. Though he did look for extra cheap sublets, Johnson eventually decided to live in his car.

Last year, a sublet cost Johnson $130 per month in rent. Although he now spends more on gas and food, Johnson estimates he saves $90 to $100 per month. He earns money working ten to twelve hours per week in the East Quad cafeteria.

It took surprisingly little to convince Johnson's family about his new sleeping arrangements.

''I was telling my parents, and my mom, first she's like, 'You lock the doors, right?' I said 'yeah.' She said, 'You roll up the windows, right?' I said 'yeah.' 'Oh. It's no problem.'''

The logistics

At night, Johnson drives to a nearby Meijer's parking lot and prepares his car for an evening's sleep. He said he likes the location because it has big floodlights and security cameras, unlike downtown side streets. Johnson is not the only one sleeping in the parking lot. He said he's seen other people sleeping in cars and RVs and so far hasn't had any issues sleeping there.

''I think it's legal. I think it just depends on if the store cares'' he said. ''What I worry about the most is that customers see me moving around in the car.''

On the backseat of Johnson's Honda Civic is a hamper filled with his clothes and other belongings. Inside the car's trunk are several blankets and a winter sleeping bag. Before going to sleep, he hangs coats in the windows of his car so that nobody can see in--Johnson says he'd like to tint the car's windows, but it's too expensive. Johnson folds down the rear seat and sleeps fully clothed inside the sleeping bag, his legs and torso inside the trunk. It's a small, dark opening that doesn't always make for restful slumber.

''I am kind of claustrophobic. I've woken up a couple of times thinking that someone was crushing the thing [trunk],'' Johnson said. He said he is often sore from having to bend his legs during the night.

Student life

Johnson says he still manages to be a student despite not having a fixed abode. He showers in the CCRB and visits campus computer sites to do homework. He can also surf the Internet from his car by parking outside campus buildings or coffee shops with free Wi-Fi. Even so, Johnson has to remember to charge his laptop and cell phone when he's on campus.

As for eating, Johnson keeps a stash of foods like cheese, mayonnaise, peanut butter, and bread. He said he manages to eat fairly cheaply, but wouldn't reveal how.

''There's ways to get free food around if you really work at it, if you've got a bunch of extra time,'' he said cryptically.

One big thing he misses? Watching sports on TV. Johnson said he either watches at his girlfriend's house or at bars. If those options aren't possible, he simply follows sports scores online.

Johnson also typically spends three nights per week staying with his girlfriend Ali Ploechl in her apartment. Ploechl, a University senior, said that, having seen the steps he takes to stay warm and safe, she's OK with the fact that Johnson sleeps in his car.

''I was a little hesitant at first,'' she said, ''especially because my parents didn't think it was a good idea.''

Ploechl's roommates were also skeptical, fearing that Johnson would be ''mooching'' off of them and their apartment. But they were more understanding once Johnson promised to never shower at the apartment and to pay part of the Comcast bill for using their Internet and watching TV.

Now just one problem remains. Ploechl said that when people hear that her boyfriend lives in his car, they sometimes ask her, ''Don't you think you could find someone better than a homeless person?''

The bottom line

For the most part, Johnson seems happy about his experience as he recounts it to us on a chilly November afternoon. The one real dampener was getting a parking ticket--while inside his car. On a rainy Friday, Johnson had parked outside East Quad to use their Wi-Fi without getting wet outside. Later, when he cleared his windshield, he found he'd gotten a parking ticket. Johnson tried to fight the ticket, but only had it reduced from a $15 to a $5 fine.

''They said you've still gotta pay for the space even if you're there,'' Johnson said.

Johnson does tell people about his sleeping arrangements, but doesn't like it when people overreact. He said most people are understanding, but not everyone.

''I don't like it when people are like, oh, that's so weird, that's crazy that you're doing that,'' he said.

The most frequent comment Johnson hears is that he must be cold at night. Yet he plans to graduate this December before returning to his hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan, so he won't be sleeping outside during the coldest parts of the winter.

Johsnon had considered buying a van, so he'd have more space to sleep, but his mom gave him her car, the Honda Civic he drives now.

''I really like this car now,'' Johnson said with a smile. ''I've obviously gotten kind of close with it.''