Over 50 Houston families evicted from mobile home park — some were charged rent after leaving, advocates say
Taking up residence in a mobile home park can be an economical means of putting a roof over one's head.
But more than 50 families at County Road Mobile Home Park in Houston, Texas, were displaced after the land they were living on was sold, according to KHOU 11 News. Residents had until April 8 to move out, and some were forced to spend thousands of dollars to relocate.
I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10)
Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
Marta De La Garza, who lived in the park with her family for five years, says she had to shell out $9,000 — $3,000 for transportation and $6,000 to set up utilities — to move to a new location.
"We had to pay for the people who moved the mobile home. We had to pay a plumber again. We had to pay for electricity again," she told the local broadcaster in a story published April 9. "It was a nightmare."
Moving costs may also not have been the only financial challenges some residents had to face. Here's the story behind the challenging evictions, plus ways you can protect yourself as a tenant.
Residents of County Road Mobile Home Park received eviction notices in September after the property was purchased by a company named Summit Acquisitions, per KHOU 11 News. They were first told they would need to vacate the property by the end of the year, but that deadline was then extended until the spring.
The forced move has been devastating for several residents, including Frankie Schwarzburg, who says her trailer was damaged beyond repair during transport and is no longer habitable.
"I cannot live in my trailer," she told KHOU 11 News. "I'm out $15,000 and a home."
In addition, the broadcaster reports community advocates say some former tenants were mistakenly charged rent in March and April, even after leaving, while others have been kept waiting for their security deposits to be returned.
"They're being charged for a place they can't live anymore," Damaris Gonzalez of the Texas Organizing Project told KHOU 11 News.
Read more: The US stock market's 'fear gauge' has exploded — but this 1 'shockproof' asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Here's how to own it ASAP
Former residents are calling on legislators to strengthen rights for mobile home owners. State Sen. Molly Cook told the broadcaster she's introduced a number of bills aimed at addressing these issues.
"I don't hear people talking about manufactured homes enough," Cook told KHOU 11 News. "The reality is that this is what makes the American dream accessible to so many Texans."
The broadcaster says neither the former property manager nor the new owners immediately responded to requests for comment.
If you're facing eviction, it's important to understand your rights. You should know that while you can be evicted for failing to comply with the terms of your lease, your landlord can also choose not to renew your lease.
Different states may have different laws regarding evictions. In Texas, for example, you'll typically be given a notice to vacate. This is not an eviction, and your landlord must give at least three days to vacate. If you don't move out by that deadline, your landlord can file an eviction suit with the court.
From there, you may have to appear in court to try to state your case (assuming you want to stay in your home). After a judgment is made, either side has the option to appeal the decision within five days. If you lose and don't appeal yet refuse to move, your landlord can ask the court for a writ of possession and you'll then have 24 hours to vacate the property. If you don't, your landlord will have the right to remove your belongings from the property.
It's important to understand how the eviction process works. If you feel you need help with your case, you may want to consider consulting an attorney.
It's also important to keep detailed records of communications between you and your landlord in an eviction situation. For example, if you're being evicted due to violating a lease term and you can prove you didn't, that's something to bring to your eviction hearing. You should also document any interaction between you and your landlord where you feel your rights as a tenant were violated.
Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it
Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead
Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
China carefully assembling a deep-sea mining strategy
In a world hungry for crucial resources, China may not be poised to start deep-sea mining but it is planting seeds for such operations in a meticulously planned economic and geopolitical strategy. The world's oceans, both international waters and those under national jurisdiction, are rich in minerals and metals, like cobalt, nickel and copper. These are important for building electric car batteries, for instance, and other technologies as countries try to transition away from fossil fuels. China "is an energy-thirsty country. It will look for resources everywhere," including the deep sea, said Julia Xue of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. But she said China is not particularly anxious over the issue, although recent developments -- one company is itching to be the first to start mining the sea bed -- may put more pressure on Beijing. A Canadian firm, The Metals Company, has filed an application with the United States to begin undersea mining in international waters. Using its American subsidiary, it acted after President Donald Trump, bypassing international negotiations, signed an executive order in April to speed up the permit-issuing process for such mining in US and international waters. Trump cited an obscure 1980 US law that says American citizens can explore for and recover deep sea minerals in areas beyond the country's jurisdiction. Environmental groups are outraged by Trump's order, arguing that a wild hunt for the potato-sized, metal-containing nodules could harm fragile undersea ecosystems. The Canadian company initially said it would submit its request to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a body which has jurisdiction over the ocean floor in international waters. The Metals Company says it ignored this authority because of its slow pace in talks on adopting a mining code that establishes rules for exploiting seabed resources. The United States is not an ISA member. A long-time observer of those talks who spoke on condition of anonymity said China is not particularly worried about who starts mining first. "For them it's more about dominance, staying competitive in the game, and giving the impression that you can't mess with us," the observer said. With that goal in mind "they're definitely developing the technology and putting the strategic agreements in place," Alex Gilbert, a researcher at the Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines, told AFP. For instance, China has reached an agreement with the Cook Islands to explore for minerals in that Pacific country's waters. Another tiny Pacific nation, Kiribati, also says it is exploring a deep-sea mining partnership with China. This approach is "more geopolitical than economic," said Emmanuel Hache of the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, noting Beijing is using undersea mining as a lure to cement greater diplomatic support as it exerts power. China holds five contracts handed out by the ISA to look for resources in the Pacific and Indian Ocean sea beds and these contracts cover all types of undersea mineral resources. China's is the largest number of the 22 contracts the organization has granted. - Years behind - "From a research perspective, we have been continuously getting closer. And from a technical perspective, we have been continuously improving," said Chen Xuguang, a researcher at Ocean University of China. In 2024 a Chinese prototype deep-sea mining vehicle called Pioneer II, developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, set a national record by operating at a depth of more than 4,000 meters (13,100 feet). State-owned Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech Development Corporation told AFP that later this year it plans a seabed nodule collection test. Still, China is not as advanced technologically as The Metals Company, experts say. "I would characterize China as being two to four years behind them in terms of their technology," said Gilbert in Colorado. Hache, the French expert, put the gap at five years. But China has an advantage over firms like the Canadian one in recovering and processing nodules: its companies are supported by the state and China has infrastructure for processing metals. The observer of the international seabed talks said China does not need seabed mining for metal supply, "but maybe geopolitically, in the context of maintaining their control over the commodities market." China wants to keep its options open, this person said. And while it supports an international mining code, China does not need one now and "they're not going to put pressure until they've decided strategically that they're ready," said Gilbert. abd/dw/mlm
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chipotle Finally Adds Southwest Ranch to Menu
Ranch is officially coming to the Chipotle menu. While many other burrito chains throughout the country have embraced creamy, southwest-style ranch sauces on their menus, Chipotle has long resisted such a move. But it sounds like that's officially changing this month. On Monday, Chipotle officially announced the launch of Adobo Ranch, which is the company's own twist on the beloved American dressing and dip. Made fresh in-house with fresh ingredients, the new sauce features 'adobo pepper, sour cream and a unique blend of herbs and spices,' which the company said brings a "craveable kick to the brand's signature burritos, bowls, salads, tacos and quesadillas." The company expects the new sauce to be particularly popular amongst its younger customers. "Ranch has become a cultural phenomenon, especially among Gen Z, who are finding creative ways to enjoy it beyond the traditional salad," said Chris Brandt, President and Chief Brand Officer said in a news release. "Our new Adobo Ranch taps into this passion, giving fans a craveworthy way to customize their Chipotle order with a completely new flavor." Adobo Ranch will be officially coming to all Chipotle locations across the U.S. and Canada starting Tuesday, June 17, and the company even announced that Chipotle Rewards members will be able to try the new sauce for free on launch day. Chipotle Finally Adds Southwest Ranch to Menu first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2025
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler Calls on California Governor Gavin Newsom to Request Disaster Declaration for Small Businesses Impacted by L.A. Riots
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 10, 2025, 06:15 IST WASHINGTON, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to request an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Declaration to authorize the agency to begin delivering urgent assistance to small businesses across Los Angeles that have been ransacked by rioters since civil unrest began last week. The agency stands ready to deliver critical aid to innocent American victims – whose storefronts have been looted and destroyed by the migrant mob that is wreaking havoc in defense of criminal illegal aliens. 'We're giving Gavin Newsom the opportunity to stop siding with criminal illegal aliens and start siding with law-abiding Americans – many of whom have lost everything to the violent and destructive riots across Los Angeles,' said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. 'The migrant mob has looted stores, destroyed storefronts, and committed criminal acts of vandalism against our small businesses. Although local leaders are allowing Los Angeles to burn, federal partners are ready to help American citizens rebuild – and we will do so, as soon as the Governor answers their call for help.' For the safety of employees and small business owners, Administrator Loeffler recently announced that SBA would be relocating its Regional Office out of Los Angeles due to the city's refusal to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Regional Office is located mere steps from the violence that continues to occur in downtown Los Angeles – and where U.S. Marines have been deployed to restore order. The SBA has provided the state of California with all relevant information needed to request an EIDL Declaration – which will allow small businesses in Los Angeles to apply for low-interest, long-term loans of up to $2 million to help them rebuild following the catastrophic violence of this weekend. Given the urgency of the situation, the SBA is committed to approving any such disaster declaration as soon as it is submitted by Governor Newsom. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
