Charlotte Mobile Home Park Residents Face Lease Terminations
Residents say rent is too expensive elsewhere and new homes coming in are also out of their budget.
CHARLOTTE, NC — Residents of a Charlotte mobile home community are now panicking after letters sent to some neighbors informed them that their leases would not be renewed. A housing advocate warns they could face unstable housing situations.
The families in the Countrywoods Mobile Home Park say they have no money to live elsewhere and fear becoming homeless. This includes Nohelia Estudillo Vasquez, who has lived in the community for 14 years. After sending the letters, she now fears for her family.
“I don’t know where I will go because the rent is too expensive, I earn very little, I have three small children,” she said.
The letters were sent the week of January 23, 2022 for residents on monthly rentals. According to the letters, those that are monthly will need to be out by March 31, 2022.
The timing of the letters also comes after the management company told residents they would be bringing new mobile homes to the community. These houses, say the neighbors, are too expensive for them.
Jessica Maria Moreno is a community organizer for NC action, focusing on housing issues. She said Countrywoods neighbors’ fears are validated by rising housing costs, including for mobile homes.
“Prices are going up and people’s prices are skyrocketing,” she said. “They’re terrified because, honestly, they don’t have a lot of housing options – there aren’t a lot of places they can go that they can afford.”
Residents expressed their frustration on Thursday, saying they needed more time to stay home. They said it would allow them to provide a better financial footing for their children and to find more affordable housing.
WCNC Charlotte has contacted the property management company to ask why some residents are facing lease termination. No response was provided until after the 5 p.m. newscast on February 3, 2022. Any subsequent response provided to WCNC Charlotte will be provided here.
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