In a quiet suburb of Salinas, California, Walmart employees began to notice something odd. Every morning, a silver van parked in the same spot. And every night, it was still there.
After a few weeks, they realized the van wasn’t just visiting — someone was living inside it.
The woman, later identified as 56-year-old Lisa D., had been quietly living in the Walmart parking lot for nearly three years. She kept a low profile, cleaned up at a nearby gym, and even had a job at a local library.
Her van was neatly organized: a mattress in the back, privacy curtains, solar panels for charging her phone, and a mini fridge powered by a car battery.
Lisa wasn’t homeless due to addiction or mental illness. In fact, she had a degree in education. Her story began when she lost her husband and home during the 2008 financial crisis. With no family to fall back on and rents skyrocketing, she chose to live in her van rather than go into debt.
Walmart’s 24/7 policy and relatively safe lots made it the ideal place. She even made friends with store staff — who quietly looked out for her and brought her food or supplies.
Her situation eventually gained attention when a local journalist interviewed her for a piece on “modern nomads.” The story went viral. Donations poured in, and Lisa used the funds to rent a small apartment — her first permanent home in nearly a decade.
