Having worked as a reporter for a local newspaper in Macon County, TN, I have come across countless harrowing stories of family and friends being forced into homelessness or pushed to the brink because they cannot comply with the local ordinances regulating housing.   

I remember always seeing this man in the Big Lots shopping center in Gallatin, TN, who was obviously homeless because he was sitting near the edge of an inner road beside a shopping cart full of things hidden under a tattered blue tarp. It had been snowing and I approached him in kindness, giving all the cash I could share, and asked him, "Where do you sleep at night?" I'd seen him there for many months. He replied, "Do you see that moving van parked over there?" I said, Yep."  What looked like frozen tears began rolling down his face and said, "I lie down underneath that van and put that tarp over me... it affected me. He would've been better off in a camper.    

The 80 year old man in the article titled Brother's Keeper:Codes & Camper Living, that was published recently in  the Macon County Chronicle, asked in a public meeting, "What was the difference between a mobile home and a camper or rv," to which he received no reply.   

Daily code violation fines as high as $100-900 are not only punitive but debilitating for people who simply choose to live in campers on their land.   

In Macon County, TN, current zoning ordinances prohibit individuals from living in campers or temporary structures on their privately owned property. Such restrictions are exacerbating the housing crisis and stripping away a basic right — the ability to live freely and comfortably on one’s own land. Those facing financial hardship are the most affected, as they are unable to afford traditional housing options.

  I can't help but to ponder about my previous situations where camper living could have been a blessing. She passed not long ago, but when my grandma Virginia Harper Atkins pleaded with me to stay and take care of her, I thought with my family, I might've managed both needs if we moved our family camper up there to stay for as long as needed. She was 80 at the time and lived in the little yellow house beside the Lafayette Fire Department. Then, I'm covering a meeting a few days later for my work and heard that was illegal to live in a camper. My heart sank, knowing I had just previously offered to move our camper to help out with my husband's dad, Bobby Green after he had a stroke.

It's imperative that we address these outdated and often punitive regulations that fail to consider the unique circumstances of each landowner. Living in a camper on one's own land could provide a viable alternative to traditional housing, allowing for greater flexibility and financial freedom while reducing the risk of homelessness. 

To make this realistic and feasible, Macon County officials need to reevaluate and amend local zoning laws to permit individuals to reside legally in campers on their own land, provided they adhere to health and safety standards. This is particularly crucial for those adversely affected by economic downturns. 

By signing this petition, you are supporting a humane and practical approach to housing that respects individual choice and provides a lifeline to those in need. Urge Macon County officials to bring about this change, allowing more residents to live without fear of persecution. Sign today and stand for a fair, inclusive, and compassionate community.