Nikki Macho

Officers told her it lacked proper registration, so it couldn’t be parked on a public street. But Macho, who asked to be identified by her nickname Nikki, said she was in the process of registering the vehicle but still needed to get a smog test.

She and her family had to move their belongings to the sidewalk.

“It kind of looks like we’re sleeping out here,” she said.

A month earlier, Macho said, she spent $4,000 — all the money she had — to buy the RV. To get it back from the impound, she must pay towing and storage fees and have a current registration.  

Macho said she saved up the money while staying at a San Diego homeless shelter. She said a roof over her head made it easier to work as a nanny, but her husband couldn’t stay with her because of the shelter’s rules. She missed him. The RV let them stay together, but now it’s gone.