South Carolina: City Forces 62 Families To Contemplate Moving from Mobile Home Park in 60 Days
Families living in the Wedgefield Mobile Home Park have received a letter telling them they have 60 days to vacate.
With no explanation or assistance offered for residents ordered to leave!
Here at MFH News, we have reported the actions taken by responsible housing authorities across the country to retain existing manufactured home and mobile home communities, realizing the importance of maintaining this vital source of affordable housing.
Unfortunately for the low-income residents of a mobile home park in an impoverished area of a city in South Carolina, they have not been given the same considerations as those in other towns and cities. The authorities of Lake City concluded that their municipality would be better served by forcing those mobile homes and their occupants to move from the park where many have lived for decades, without explanation or assistance.
According to reporting by WBTW News 13, a group created by the Lake City Council plans to force the 62 families to move out of their homes at the Wedgefield Mobile Home Park. Those residents have received a letter telling them they have 60 days to move! With no reason given “why” they are being forced out, nor has a justification been forthcoming from the city.
CITY OFFICIAL SAY FORCING MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS FROM THEIR HOMES, “IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY.”
A report of a sale document obtained by News13 says last month the Greater Lake City Community Development Office purchased the foreclosed land upon which the park is located for $75,000.
The organization’s spokesperson, Shane Prince, said the city has no plans for the property right now. He said, “They’ll decide after they clear the land and cut the grass.”
“We’re doing projects all through town,” said Prince. “Everything we do is for the betterment of Lake City,” he explained.
Lake City Police Chief Kipp Coker confirms that this area of the city had problems with gangs just about four months ago, but could not say if this is the reason people are being forced to leave this particular property.
The residents of Wedgewood don’t believe that the criminal activity is associated with their mobile home park. They maintain that they often are victims of crime originating in adjoining areas.
“FINDING LAND AND MOVING MOBILE HOME WITHIN 60 DAYS IS IMPOSSIBLE”
Cassandra Gillard said if she had enough money to move she would have moved two years ago when a bullet hit her home. “This hole right there is where the bullet entered,” said Gillard. “The people that live over here never have any problems.”
“It’s the outsiders that don’t live in the trailer park that bring the problems,” added her neighbor Rhonda McDowell.
Gillard and her neighbors received a letter on June 27, saying they have 60 days to move.
