In Hampton, South Carolina last night, Mayor John Rhoden and the Town Council extended a hand to a group of manufactured home community residents in an effort to make the best of an unfortunate situation.

According to the Hampton County Guardian, residents of L&L Trailer Park got word late last year that they would be forced to relocate their homes.

 

The Town of Hampton obtained the property from the Forfeited Land Commission during a December delinquent tax sale.

The town then sold the property to a group that plans to use the land to generate solar power.

Residents were then given 30 days to relocate, which is required by South Carolina law.

The council gave the residents a 30-day extension after hearing their concerns last month, but a handful of residents were at last night’s meeting to ask for additional time.

“We are trying to find out where we stand as far as time,” said resident Natasha Thomas, a spokesperson for the group.

“I still haven’t been able to move my mobile home [sic] and I need more time. Most of us haven’t been able to move.”

Thomas also said that she has found space in another community, but the cost of moving her home is $3,500, which she does not have.

“I’m just a cook,” said Thomas.

“We are just trying to find out if there is any kind of assistance.”

What happened next surprised some of those in attendance.

Unlike their last meeting, Hampton officials had more answers and ideas this time, including assistance from a Palmetto Electric Cooperative community trust fund.

“I have talked to Palmetto Trust and I have the applications, but you all will have to fill them out,” said Rhoden.

“If you fill it out and bring it back to me, I will hand deliver it for you.”

Officials told residents that they they could pick up applications at the town hall, and that they had been in touch with the Lowcountry Council of Governments to see if there were any assistance funds available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The mayor and council then took an additional step. They unanimously approved a second 30-day extension for the remaining trailer park residents.

“We will work with you,” said Rhoden.

“We aren’t going to leave you out in the cold,” said Mayor Pro Tem Pete Hagood. ##

 

(Image credits are as shown above.)

 

Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.