TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Families Hunt Housing As Largo Closes Mobile Home Park

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Signs on the mobile homes declare them "unfit for human habitation or occupancy."

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

LARGO - Eight families in a mobile home park, left without water for a week, are scrambling to find housing this morning as city officials began closing the park.

"I have no idea what I'm going to do," said Adelia Eichelberger, 52, standing outside in the morning sun with other park residents. "I don't have money to move even if I had a place."

Eichelberger is among the 16 adults and 18 children who learned Tuesday they have to leave their rented homes at No Go Largo Village, 1760 Clearwater-Largo Road, by noon Thursday.

Largo city officials and Catholic Charities representatives were at the park by 8:30 a.m. today trying to help the families find temporary and permanent housing.

"I've been on the phone for two solid days trying to make that happen," Largo Community Development director Carol Stricklin said. "One thing I learned in all the phone calls is there is not a big safety net for people who are vulnerable and need housing."

Catholic Charities workers were confident they would find something for them.

The residents have struggled to live at the park since Pinellas County Utilities shut off water eight days ago. Key Largo Communities, which owns the mostly abandoned park, hasn't paid the water bill since July and owes the county $8,400, Stricklin said.

Helene Provenzano of Key Largo Communities did not return a telephone call this morning. Stricklin said she spoke with Provenzano and "essentially she said do what you have to do."

Without water, the homes are unsafe and unsanitary, forcing the city to close them. Code inspectors posted red notices on the units this morning, declaring them "unfit for human habitation or occupancy."

That left Cheryl and Darren Combs, who moved into a unit with their five children in June, once again looking for a home. Both are out of work, waiting for their disability cases to be settled.

"We have no income. I work for my rent," said Darren Combs, 48, who did maintenance at the park to cover their rent.

Catholic Charities found temporary housing for the Combs beginning Thursday, he said, and was trying to find them a permanent place.

Residents, several of whom said they paid $150 week in rent, were told to pack essential items and to secure the rest in their homes. Stricklin said the city was seeking donations and volunteers to help people move.

Cheryl Combs, 38, and other residents said the water shut-off came without notice. They were forced to collect water in buckets and jugs from a mobile home in an adjoining park.

They hauled it back to their units for drinking, bathing and flushing toilets.

The city learned of the situation when a resident in the other park called, Stricklin said. City workers came to investigate and delivered several pallets of water on Tuesday.

"The people from the city of Largo have been wonderful," Cheryl Combs said.

John Fappiano, 41, moved in two weeks ago, but said he was lucky enough to have money to make a deposit today on another mobile home a few miles away.

He was pessimistic about getting back his $250 deposit for a No Go Largo mobile home. "I doubt it," he said.

Fappiano, who lives with his wife, Patricia, and their four children, said they were up most of the night packing.

Eichelberger, who lives with her 26-year-old daughter, was worried about losing her job when she moves. She works in a restaurant within walking distance and has no car or money for bus fare.

"And I can't afford to lose my job," she said.

Reporter Steven Girardi may be reached at (727) 451-2333 or at sgirardi@tampatrib.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT