Canadians turn vans into homes to overcome ‘9 to 5 pieces’ – Halifax | Globalnews.ca

A few years ago, Chrome Valdez was battling the challenges that many Canadians face on a daily basis.

“It was to the point where it was like sparring, am I going to be able to pay the rent or not,” said the British Columbian during his visit to Nova Scotia.

Valdez eventually got fed up with living paycheck to paycheck and decided to switch his lifestyle to an unconventional way.

“I just needed a change in my life. I was sick of the nine-to-five grind. So, I slowed down at nine-five, quit my day job, got into my van, started a YouTube channel , “They said.

He launched himself into the world of creative production, documenting his experiences online.

His Youtube channel It now has over 200,000 customers and lives off the revenue it generates.

“It has its ups and downs. Sometimes we have good months, sometimes we have bad months, but it has kept me full, dog full, and keeps us traveling,” he Told.

Van Lifestyle has taken him on adventures across the country where he has met countless other people who also live in converted vehicles into homes.

“We have also got people at the other end who cannot afford the high cost of living nowadays, or the lack of affordable apartments. So, the channel has a broader message,” he said.

During his travels he was attached to another van YouTuberQuebec-born Emily Guerin, who struggled to make ends meet, working as a janitor and earning minimum wage.

“I slept in my car for a whole year, believe it or not, and during that time I was saving money on, obviously, rent. And, I bought this van after a year of being in that car,” she said.

Valdez and Guerin sparked a relationship. Both of them are adopting a nomadic lifestyle, irrespective of the stigma they face.

“It’s a lot for people who don’t understand it. They see us as homeless, but it’s 100 percent my home,” Valdez said.

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