By Lyndsay Wright
For Vicki, a potential closure at Del Rio Mobile Home Park means losing her permanent home and facing homelessness once again.
“I don’t have anywhere to go, and I would be homeless. I have no idea what I would do. I was homeless when my cousin let me move in, and that’s why I cherish this place. It came through for me and I’ll never forget that. I’m pretty content here but I worry about the future here with Harmony in charge of it.”
Vicki’s park is owned by Harmony Communities, a corporate owner buying mobile home parks across the state of California, and often closing them if deemed the most profitable option. They could, at any time and for little reason, close the place where her home is located. If her park closed, she would need to find a place that could also house her mother who lives with her. Options of staying with family are limited. Having to move would also affect her job. She works at a store down the street and can easily walk to work. Moving would upend most of her way of life.
She moved into the Del Rio Mobile Home Park 5 or 6 years ago, in 2018 or 2019, when the park was under prior management She moved into the park to live with a cousin at the time. Eventually her cousin left, but she stayed on and her mother and son moved in with her as well. Her favorite part of living at Del Rio is that it is affordable to her.
She paid 24 thousand dollars, in incremental payments over time, to buy her home. For a while she was receiving help from a roommate. When it comes to yearly upkeep, she tries to ask family for help on as many things as she can. If they can’t help her, she thinks she spends maybe 300 to 400 dollars a year outsourcing the work.
When Vicki moved in, she quickly worked to make her home livable. After being homeless for a time, it was a big investment for her, and she wanted to take it seriously. Vicki bought and installed a brand new stove, put a floor and sink in the bathroom and repaired a light and fixed the floor in her son’s room. She had to spray to get rid of mold in her moms room and installed a small fence in front of the home. She also had to pay to have the kitchen sink repaired. In all it may have cost her a few thousand dollars.
If Vicki could make changes to the park, she would like to see a gate for the front of the park installed, to keep her and her neighbors safe inside. She thinks it would be nice if the laundry room was kept up to date with repairs as well. Lastly, she would do something about the uneven pavement in the park street. She tripped and twisted her ankle once.