Home Sweet Parking Lot

"But they didn't do anything," he says. "I think they looked around and saw five or six other vehicles with people sleeping in them."

One recent Tuesday night, Castillo was supposed to have moved out of the van and into his new roommate's house, but he's still in the parking lot.

The roommate was nice at first, he says. He called Castillo his brother, and they shared a barbecue dinner. But then he demanded that Catholic Charities pay the entire $250 for the August rent, even though the month was more than half over, and he refused to prorate the amount.

"He decided he wouldn't let him move in until he received the check from us," Foster, Castillo's case worker at Catholic Charities, says, frustration visible on her face. "Most landlords work with us and go ahead on our assurance that the check is coming, because we have a good reputation. We pay our bills. But he wouldn't do it. And then, I guess, he and his other roommate talked and decided not to rent to him.

"It made me sad," Foster continues. "It was really sad for Reynaldo, because even though he was saying, 'I got used to living in my van and only eating during the day,' he was getting really excited about getting out of this weather and into a home. And then it didn't happen."

Foster is still working to find Castillo a new roommate or a place he can afford. His situation isn't uncommon, she says. She recently had to talk another one of her cases out of moving into an unfurnished garage — its owners were going to charge him $100 a week, and he wouldn't even have been able to lock the door.

It's OK that he's still in the van, Castillo says. The house gave him a bad vibe anyway.

In the van, Castillo is protected by two gold-inked prayer cards stuck to the dashboard. One is an image of San Pedro. "When you ask him for something, he's supposed to grant it to you," Castillo says. "If someone tries to attack you, he is like your shield."

The other card depicts a crucified Jesus surrounded by good-luck charms, including a rooster. "This is the tres clavos, the three nails," he says, "to protect you from trouble. If you have enemies, like my mother-in-law, this is to soften their hearts and live in peace."

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