SEATTLE -- A new effort is in progress in Ballard to create car camps for people who live in their vehicles, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

In Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, it's common to see people such as Tom Nickels living in RVs and other vehicles under the Ballard Bridge.

Nickels said his RV is the only way he can afford to live in Ballard and considers himself lucky.

"Having a vehicle with a hard roof when it's raining is a pretty nice feeling," said Nickels.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter George Howell found people living in their vehicles all over Ballard.

Some light fires and use barbecues to cook on.

Some business owners said the mobile living arrangement causes problems.

"Within half a block (of my business) there is a crack dealer, people who throw excrement out of the front door and walk in and out of it, and when it gets too stinky they move half a block," said business owner Doug Harris.

Harris supports the new idea to create car camps in parking lots and Vic Opperman, of the Homes For All Coalition, is leading the effort.

A parking lot next to Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church may be the location of the first camp.

"We would like to see 50 or so of these in Ballard and another 20 communities taking this on," said Opperman.

The concept is very similar to that of tent cities in which the homeless go through a screening process. Larger camps would include portable hygiene centers and volunteers would check in with residents to make sure they have no problems.

Although the idea has received mixed reviews in Ballard, Opperman said that with homelessness on the rise, the camps are necessary.

"You can't please everyone all the time. I don't see it as a problem. I see it as a challenge," said Opperman.

Opperman is seeking support from the Seattle City Council and Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson supports the ideas.