California Woman Films Dozens of Alleged Google Employees Living in RVs Near Mountain View Campus: “All the Education and Hustle to Live Like This”
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA — A viral TikTok video has reignited conversation about California’s extreme housing crisis after a woman recorded dozens of RVs allegedly housing Google employees parked along the streets near the tech giant’s headquarters. The scene has shocked viewers across the country, exposing how even six-figure earners can’t afford to live in Silicon Valley.
The video, posted by Rachel, shows rows of RVs lining Mountain View streets, many of which are within walking distance of Google’s main campus. The caption reads: “Ever wonder how tech workers employed by Google live?”
Rachel’s clip pans slowly across the neighborhood, revealing RV after RV. “A lot of these people are temp workers,” she explains in the video. “But the fact that Google employees can’t live within 100 miles of their job says a lot.”
A Window Into Silicon Valley’s Housing Crisis
For many viewers, the footage served as a sobering reality check about the cost of living in California’s Bay Area. The average home in Mountain View sells for over $3 million, according to online estimates, with even run-down properties fetching seven-figure prices.
Rachel poses the question millions have asked: “Who can afford rent in the area if Google employees cannot?”
In the comments, viewers expressed disbelief that some of the nation’s most sought-after tech jobs still can’t guarantee affordable housing. One commenter wrote, “All the education and hustle and labor to live like this.”
@rachelzm821 Driving through Mountain View, showing how many tech workers live. If Google’s employees cannot afford to live indoors or within 100 miles of work, who can? 🤔
Tech Workers Turn to RV Living
The trend of tech employees living in RVs near major campuses is not new, but Rachel’s video has brought renewed attention to the practice. For years, workers have been parking RVs in and around Mountain View and Palo Alto to avoid paying astronomical rents.
Some reportedly live on Google-owned streets or nearby lots, sleeping just steps away from the offices they spend their days in. “They’re literally living next to their workplace,” Rachel said, “because the price to live in the area is far too much.”
While some commenters sympathized with the workers, others were less forgiving, arguing that those who can afford RVs should move elsewhere. Rachel pushed back, explaining that even low-end properties in the area are unaffordable:
“Meanwhile I’m getting comments that even one of those RVs would put a down payment on a home… In this area, homes with black mold will still run you $2 million.”
Public Reactions Reveal a Divided Debate
Online reactions to Rachel’s video have ranged from empathy to frustration. One commenter pointed out, “Homes in this area are in the $3–5 million range — that’s for something decent.”
Others criticized what they see as systemic failure. “When people working for billion-dollar companies are forced to live in RVs, something’s broken,” wrote another viewer.
Many commenters agreed that the video underscores the broader housing inequality in California, where tech wealth and poverty coexist within the same neighborhoods. “This isn’t just a Google issue,” one user wrote. “It’s a California issue — and a U.S. issue.”
A Call for Affordable Housing Solutions
Rachel’s clip has since gained widespread attention, prompting renewed discussion about the need for affordable housing near tech hubs. Critics argue that corporations like Google should play a more active role in addressing the problem, while others say the responsibility lies with state and local governments that continue to restrict development.
As one viewer summed it up:
“Maybe the problem isn’t that people are buying RVs — maybe the problem is that it takes a millionaire’s salary to rent an apartment.”
For now, the RV-lined streets of Mountain View stand as a visual reminder of what happens when innovation and inequality collide in the same zip code.
Do you think tech companies should be required to provide housing solutions for their workers? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
