Residents of a mobile home park in northwest Houston are facing a daunting challenge as they have been given 90 days to find new homes. Over 50 families at the Country Road Park received notice that the land is being sold, leaving them with the burden of relocating their mobile homes. According to a report by FOX26 Houston, the landlord's actions, though disruptive, are legal under the requirement to provide a 60-day notice for non-renewal of lease agreements.
Finding a place to relocate isn't just about securing a new lot; there are substantial financial hurdles involved. "Everybody is in the same situation. We are all struggling to come up with $6,000 dollars to move these trailers, deposit to new places or qualify for apartments," Frankie Schwarzburg told FOX26 Houston.
Many families in the park are dealing with the added difficulty of trying to move older mobile homes which are at risk of damage during the relocation. As reported by Click2Houston, Kenny Black, a resident for over 30 years, expressed concerns about potentially destructive issues such as electrical and plumbing problems if he were forced to move his trailer.
The situation has been made even more stressful for some due to recent assurances of stability in the park. Schwarzburg also revealed to Click2Houston that tenants were previously informed of a rent increase set for January, misleading them to believe their tenancies were secure. Some residents are still under mortgage obligations, and now they must juggle these payments with the costs of relocation.
Amidst these challenges, the community is calling out for assistance. "We need help, not just like money help, like moving each trailer and the families having to put deposits down and uproot our families…We need physical help. A lot of the people can’t even physically move their belongings out," Schwarzburg emphasized in a statement obtained by Click2Houston. Efforts to reach out to the landlord for an extension and to Judge Lina Hidalgo's office for possible resources for the residents have so far been unanswered. In the meantime, those looking to offer aid to these families in need are encouraged to contact [email protected] for options on how to assist.
