Residents at Riverside Mobile Home Park in the city of Toledo, Ohio, are being forced out after the city declared the property unfit for human habitation, citing years of owner neglect. Despite being given 30 days to clear out, the few occupants that remain are reluctant to leave.
“I wound up buying this trailer for a dollar and I’ve been in it ever since,” Harry Bailey, who joined the community in 1998, told 13 Action News in a story published May 23. “I don’t want to move.”
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But the city says a lack of water and sewer service, dangerous electrical conditions and severe structural issues has made the area a dangerous place to live.
“It’s not proper to be living here, I’ll put it that way,” Carol Kelly, another resident, admitted to 13 Action News. However, she also says exiting the park presented a challenge to those still there.
“Four of us remaining are all senior citizens, and we all have animals, so we’re kind of between a rock and a hard place,” she said. “We don’t have the finances for, you know, making a move.”
Looking for answers
Kelly says the writing had been on the wall for some time and she wasn’t shocked by the city’s decision.
“Well, we weren’t really a bit surprised because we’ve been after the owner out of Chicago to do the repairs here for the past year, two years,” she said.
According to the broadcaster, notices by the city identified Marisa Garcia and River Side Mobile Home Estate LLC as the property’s owners. They were ordered to fix the problems or the park must be vacated. A city spokesperson told 13 Action News the owners haven’t been in contact with officials since late 2024.
Attempts by journalists to reach out to ownership were mostly unsuccessful. One person who answered a phone call said they were not affiliated with the property, despite their number appearing on a document at the mobile home park. When looking up the company’s Chicago office, 13 Action News reports building managers listed it as unoccupied.
In the meantime, the community’s remaining residents are left scrambling for alternatives. Kelly says she’s looking into filing a class action lawsuit against the owners, per the broadcaster, while city officials say they plan to clean up the property at the owners’ expense.
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Where to turn for help
The City of Toledo says it contacted residents to help them find housing options and navigate available resources, such as through the 2-1-1 United Way hotline and other social service partners.
However, affordable housing options may be slim. According to USA Facts, which cites the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the average wait time for subsidized housing in Ohio was 23 months as of 2023.
Where else can people get help if they’re displaced? Here are some additional resources for those who are forced from their homes:
Legal aid societies: Get legal help for eviction defense, tenant rights and navigating housing law through groups such as Legal Aid of Western Ohio and Ohio Legal Help.
Housing nonprofits: Organizations like the Community Shelter Board in Columbus work with local agencies to help individuals find housing solutions.
Mutual aid networks: Local grassroots groups can provide temporary support such as food, supplies or housing assistance.
Faith-based organizations: Many churches and religious groups can provide emergency shelter and meals.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
