Hispanic community advocates say a manufactured home community in northeast Gastonia has successfully addressed a number of concerns raised by tenants there late last year.

Fair Oaks Mobile Home Park became the target of pointed criticism in October. Residents who live there began complaining publicly about everything from a lack of maintenance on the roads and lawns to suspiciously high water bills and unreliable septic systems.

Unidos We Stand, a nonprofit that advocates for Hispanic civil rights, helped to put a spotlight on the problems. This week, the group reported that a substantial amount of progress has been made.

“We feel the management team at Fair Oaks has taken great strides in improving the standard of living at this mobile home park,” said Byron Martinez, who runs Unidos We Stand with his two brothers. “We will be keeping in close contact with the tenants in the event that another issue may arise.”

Approximately 34 families live there, including more than 40 children. Most of them are undocumented residents who do not speak English. They said their landlord took advantage of that by ignoring concerns about conditions in their neighborhood. Relocating isn’t an option for many of them because they are scraping by on so little.

“In the last two months, most of the grievances have been addressed,” Martinez said.

The Gaston Gazette tells MHProNews that all of the residents have now received original titles to homes they had purchased in previous years. They are continuing to rent the lots where they live.

Septic tanks that were overflowing have been inspected and fixed, and public streetlights that were broken have been repaired by Duke Energy. Community management has cut and manicured the entire park grounds, and a plow has been used to grade the gravel roads that run throughout the park, Martinez said.

The management company has also revised its monthly invoice sheets to clearly display lot charges, water fees and late charges, when applicable.

Martinez said the progress didn’t come easily.  “But we are satisfied with the attempts of this owner to respond to the concerns of the community and county,” he said. ##

(Photo Credit: Gaston Gazette)

 

Article Submitted by Sandra Lane to – Daily Business News- MHProNews.