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Mobile home tenants get new forced move-out date
In September, tenants at a mobile home park in northwest Houston were told the owner was selling the land and they had to move by December and last week they held a press conference to raise more awareness while trying to keep their homes. FOX 26's Leslie DelasBour spoke to residents who are holding meetings after they were given a new move-out date.
HOUSTON - Tenants from the Country Road Mobile Home Park gathered at 7 p.m. inside Houston First Church of God to discuss their next steps in the fight to keep their homes.
"So I know legally he can do whatever he wants, but morally it’s wrong," said Frankie Schwarzburg.
Empty lots are a lot of what you’ll see at Country Road Mobile Home Park now, after 53 families quickly went down to less than 40 because the owner decided to sell the land.
Forcing many to get up and go.
"It hurts every time a person leaves, our heart breaks a little more. Our community is breaking apart. You know people who can move are leaving quickly, they don’t want to stress and struggle like we are," said Schwarzburg.
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The owner of the mobile home park originally sent the notice about his wish to sell the land in September, giving tenants until December to leave.
However, the owner has extended that date until April 8, but many people here are not ready to give up their lot.
Tenants like Frankie Schwarzburg are working with the Texas organizing project to look at laws and regulations to help her and future mobile homeowners.
"We are looking mainly at keeping a trailer park a mobile home park. Maybe if they want to see the first option could be the tenants, give them the opportunity to purchase their land," said Schwarzburg, "If not, it would be good to offer the next buy to demand that it stay a mobile home park,"
The Texas Organizing Project says they hope Harris County can find a way to help country road mobile home tenants.
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"If the owner is not able to help us move them into another area, then we want the county to help move us into another area. Right now they are still paying rent and utilities and they might not have $20,000 by April to move into another house or move their mobile homes," said Damaris Gonzalez, community organizer with Texas Organizing Project.
We reached out to Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who sent us a statement saying, "Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home, which is why Harris County has made historic investments in housing stability, affordability, and tenant protections. My heart goes out to the residents at County Road Park facing an uncertain future in their homes. I'm currently working with county officials to determine what, if anything, we can legally do to help these folks. I would urge the property owner to consider the profound impact this sale will have on the residents who have called this place home for decades. We hope that any decision made will prioritize their well-being and give them the dignity and respect they deserve."
We did reach out to the owner of the County Road Mobile Home Park through his attorney per the direction of the residents, but not receive a response by the time of this report.