HUDSON, Fla. — Some residents of mobile home parks who have been without power since Hurricane Helene say they are now facing possible evictions.
At Lantern Travel Park, outdated electrical boxes are causing a delay in restoring electricity.
Several homes display “Unsafe” signs placed by the Pasco County building inspector indicating they should not be occupied due to electrical damage incurred during Hurricane Helene.
“I’m a blue-collar worker, and I work hard for everything I have. It’s not much, but I work hard,” said one homeowner named Brad.
Since Hurricane Helene flooded his property, he has received more and more bad news, including an eviction notice.
Asked what his biggest fear right now is, he said, “not having a home to live in and a place to put all the things that I’ve worked hard for.”
Several other mobile homes received notices saying their leases would end in 30 days.
Landlord and owner Charles Carson informed Spectrum News that management is currently updating the electric meters and that he sent notices to mobile homes that needed electrical repairs and had failed inspections.
Carson added some of the properties are vacant, which is also slowing down power restoration for the entire park.
With limited finances and time, Brad feels his hands are tied.
“He (the landlord) says that since this has happened, he’s not even allowing us to renew the place because he’s not renewing the leases for this entire side for the homeowners,” he said. “I worked hard for what I have; now it’s being thrown away?”
Brad wants to rebuild, but if he is pushed out, he believes starting over entirely would be equally devastating.
Carson says he intends to collaborate with tenants and will not pursue evictions as long as the tenants upgrade their homes.
According to Withlacoochee River Electric, the electric company has restored power to units that were approved by the Pasco County building inspector.