We're going to be losing our home

**steelergal** · 12-28-2007, 07:03 PM

We own a mobile home in a Mobile Home Court (that won't be paid off til Dec. '08!). Late this past summer they did a test on the well water and found e. coli. Well the D.E.P. stepped in and told Landlord he has 3 options 1) tie together all 3 well systems and become his own water authority.
2) tap into the city water line
3) shut down the park

Well the landlord tried to talk local water authority to run the water line 1/4 mile up the road to tie into- that was denied. In order to become his own "water authority" costs way too much money (he heard that once you do that- they can come in a few years later and change the way you have to do things!). So he told DH that he will be shutting down the mobile home court!

So with no money set aside for a down payment on a home-even just the closing fees, our house is considered "too old" to move to a different park, owe another year on this place, have no money set aside for a deposit on even an apartment or house rental- so many different things are going on right now I truly don't know what to do. We owe around $3500 before this home is paid off- I can probably get that paid off before the year is up (we don't know the exact date of when we need to be out of here!). If we sell this place- it will have to be cheap because whoever buys it will have to move it and there is about 20 other mobile homes in our park that will either be sold so there is competition! Yet we can't really try to sell this place until we almost have a home (we can't be homeless!).

UUGGGHHH! Sorry I needed to get this off my chest! I guess I better start looking at the paper

**mnmarty03** · 12-28-2007, 07:08 PM

Hang in there! I'm so sorry this happened to you and your husband (and everyone else at the park!).

Try not to worry too much, and try to find the blessing hidden in there!

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

**steelergal** · 12-28-2007, 07:29 PM

Thank you! I am praying too!

The one thing I did say to my DH is that this would be a great way for me to get rid of a lot of our stuff (hopefully sell some of it and set the money aside for something!)- I really don't want to move everything we have in here!

**shoiji** · 12-28-2007, 07:42 PM

Hope everything works out for you.

You might want to check with different organizations. The food pantry I volunteer at is sometimes able to help people with downpayments for apartments who are being evicted. I know your situation is somewhat different, however it never hurts to find out all your options.

Let us know how things are going.

**bumplett** · 12-28-2007, 09:30 PM

could you possibly purchase a small lot of land to move your mobile to??

I don't understand why you can't move your mobile to another park?

talk to the neighbors,(owners, not renters) everyone is in the same boat - so maybe someone else has an idea - or at least you guys can bat around ideas together -

**AmyBoz** · 12-28-2007, 09:57 PM

to you

**larabelle** · 12-28-2007, 10:02 PM

I would network-network-NETWORK meaning that I would talk to the neighbors, postman, etc. to find out what everybody is going to do. They may have discovered resources which you can also tap in to. Do not go at this alone!!! Talk to people at your church or any organizations which you are a member of because maybe someone has a house that they will rent to you. Pray+pray + pray and I will send up a prayer for you.

**Mom23boys** · 12-28-2007, 10:21 PM

Good luck to you and your DH.

**HappyMama** · 12-28-2007, 10:26 PM

I am sorry you and all the others who live there are going through this right now . Keep praying! I will pray for you all.

**jamie79** · 12-29-2007, 12:02 AM

I am sorry you have to deal with this

**bumplett** · 12-29-2007, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by larabelle

I would network-network-NETWORK meaning that I would talk to the neighbors, postman, etc. to find out what everybody is going to do. They may have discovered resources which you can also tap in to. Do not go at this alone!!! Talk to people at your church or any organizations which you are a member of because maybe someone has a house that they will rent to you. Pray+pray + pray and I will send up a prayer for you.

yes, yes, yes!! I agree!!!!

**LizaZ** · 12-29-2007, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by larabelle

I would network-network-NETWORK meaning that I would talk to the neighbors, postman, etc. to find out what everybody is going to do. They may have discovered resources which you can also tap in to. Do not go at this alone!!! Talk to people at your church or any organizations which you are a member of because maybe someone has a house that they will rent to you. Pray+pray + pray and I will send up a prayer for you.

Amen to that one! Our situation was quite different, but about 4 yrs. ago we received notice on Friday afternoon from the fire dept. that our landlord had failed to correct a problem that was a fire hazard and we would have to be out by Sunday night. This was the first we had heard of any of this. We would not be allowed back in the building after that time because the building was unsafe. Who can find a place and get everthing out in 2 days?

The first place we went was to an attorney who was no help at all -- in fact he laughed at us. Then we went to our pastor. She didn't really have any specific ideas herself but was able to get us calmed down and helped us brainstorm.

As I said our case was different and we ended up getting the press and our Congressman involved. The landlord was embarrassed into fixing the problem at the 11th hour, passed inspection and everyone was allowed to stay.

What was horrible when it happened turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to us. For a long time we had felt trapped in that place, that we just couldn't afford to move. But we started looking that weekend and discovered that the local housing market had changed and there were very nice, newer apartments available for less than we were paying. In a few months we were out of there. When we left our circumstances changed drastically. First we started feeling much better -- our old building had been making us sick. You may find the same thing when you get away from that water. We were able to find an apt. in the county across the street from a wildlife area where we are much more comfortable and relaxed than when we were in the middle of the city. When we stopped feeling trapped and took that first step doors started opening right and left. Dh ended up with a really good job and I found serveral contracts to work on.

So, do the networking. Talk to lots of people and I hope everything works out for you.

**mikandmari** · 12-29-2007, 08:35 AM

LizaZ has a good point. Call your Senator. Call your Congressman. (Remember, they work for you. This is the kind of crisis where they are needed, and can 'show-off'.) Call the local newspaper. Call the local radio stations.

Ban together with your neighbors... multiple phone calls may become a little difficult to ignore!

Maybe this will embarrass the water co. into rethinking their decision to deny running the water lines to this property; or maybe a park can be found to move the homes onto.

In the meantime, don't drink the water!

**ilovechocolate** · 12-29-2007, 09:26 AM

I agree with everyone who said to network. Maybe someone will let you move your home to their land temporarily.

With the recession we're in (even though "officially" there is no recession), we all need to band together and help each other.

**steelergal** · 12-29-2007, 10:02 AM

Thanks everyone for your advice- so many things that I totally overlooked!

I remember at the water athority place that the landlord said something about June for letting the DEP know what he is doing. I believe one of the neighbors is going to be calling the local tv stations- they are always looking for stories.

I called the other 2 mobile home courts in our area (both own by the same person)- our mobile home is an 1983 and they don't allow anything older than 1986 in their parks (he also said by time it's moved maybe have the stuff would be broken off anyways!). I don't know if there is anyone with free vacant land we can move it and the price of free land is ridiculous in our area. There is other places we can try- BUT we really like the school district and hate to make our oldest go to a different school- especially since the school is really good compared to other schools in our community.

Just in case we are going to be looking around the town to see what is available for rent, there is one house that seems pretty cheap compared to other homes with the same features, so we may run by that house (DH is a jack of all trades master of none so he can probably fix anything if that is the case!), also check out other mobile homes to see if any others are for sale. We have a long day ahead of us!