Permanent campers: Rising rents are pushing people to live on public lands – By Juliette Rihl (Arizona Republic) / Jan 7, 2023
The increase of campers has locals and forest officials on edge.
For the past few months, Morgan Rice has called Coconino National Forest home.
Rice and his girlfriend — along with their dog, Rio, and their cat, Kit — have been camping full-time in their 32-foot, 2006 Ford diesel van since August. When monthly rent for their one-bedroom apartment in Avondale increased from around $800 to over $1,300, the couple simply couldn’t keep up.
“They outpriced us,” Rice said.
So they traded in their Jeep, bought the van and hit the road.
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