Help Jerry - Use of Funds Restoration and Conversion

Jerry is a 77 year old homeless man living in a 1996 van that is literally falling apart. Our goal is to restore it and convert his van into a reliable and livable camper van. Restoring and converting Jerry’s van will literally help him survive. We are attempting to raise $16,000 to complete the project. Giving Jerry a livable van will give him ownership, independence, and allow him to maintain his social contacts and friends. It will also prevent him from eventually living on the street, which would be a death sentence for this 77 year old homeless man.

Mechanical: We will make the van mechanically sound, and reliable. We evaluated whether it would be better to purchase a newer van, but the cost would be out of range. Vans are expensive. I paid $51,000 for may current van and it was one year old. And that did not include converting it to a camper! It’s extremely cheaper and easier to mechanically restore and repair an older van than a newer model. Even an engine replacement is a fraction of what it would be for a newer van. We will bring the van to a Ford dealership or a qualified mechanic. They will replace all hoses, fluids, inspect the vehicle, make repairs, and bring the van to a state of road worthiness. Our evaluation concluded that his van is ideal for this project. Approximate cost and budget for the mechanical work is $500

Bodywork: The appearance of Jerry’s van draws negative responses. He painted it with house paint and a roller, it looks horrific. The van draws attention including that of the police. He gets thrown out of parking lots. The rust is extensive between the van body and the fiber glass high top. Also the hood latch doesn’t work and the hood is held together by wires.

The back and side doors of the van do not work. Jerry has severe joint pain, and needs a running board to get into and out of the van easier. We will make body repairs, paint the van, add graphics, and make it look beautiful. I have done bodywork, the material is costly and its labor intensive. The fiberglass top may have to be removed, the rust removed, and then reinstalled. We will bring it to various bodyshops to complete this project. Approximate cost and budget for bodywork is $2,000.

Camper Conversion: We will convert Jerry’s van into a comfortable and functional camper van. Currently Jerry is sleeping on a lawn chair mattress on top of plastic totes. There is no insulation, and he doesn’t have heating or air conditioning. It lacks proper air circulation. He also lacks the ability to preserve or cook food. His van is currently unlivable by any standard of normalcy. In cold weather he gets sick. In the hot summers he suffers inside a metal box. It’s totally inhumane.

The cost of a van conversion depends on many factors. Do it yourself Van Lifers will spend between $5,000 to $25,000 in materials to convert their vans. That does not include their labor. Professionals will charge between $25,000 and $100,000 to convert a van. My current van cost approximately $12,000 to convert, not including my labor and took approximately 3 months to complete. It’s a quality build, and includes a queen size bed, refrigerator, air conditioning, Maxxair fan, electric, etc. The electric and electronic are the most expensive part.

Approximate cost and budget for converting Jerry’s van into a camper:

$10,000 (not including labor)

A rough estimate of the material costs include:

• Electronics and Electric Flexible solar panels $500

• Refrigerator 12 Volt $600 EcoFlow

• Solar Generator $2,000

• Champion Generator $600

• Stoves including gas and electric $250 Lights, switches, outlets, wire, $200

• Maxxair fan $350

Total electronics and electric costs: $4,500

Other Materials Wood Birch Plywood, trim, lumber, insulation, flooring, Screws, glue, adhesives, paint, Cabinets and hardware, framing

Total costs of other material: $4,000

Miscellaneous RV memory foam mattress and bedding $500 Windows $1,000 Total Miscellaneous cost: $1,500

Labor will require two to three months to complete. The approximate cost and budget for labor is $3,500. We believe this is a bargain compared to what’s available in the market place. This van will help keep Jerry alive.

The complete cost of this project is projected to be $16,000