PHOENIX -- The razing of older mobile home parks across the United States worries advocates who say bulldozing them permanently eliminates some of the already limited housing for the poorest of the poor.
A recent survey by the National Low Income Housing Coalition showed a U.S.-wide shortage of 7.3 million affordable rental homes for extremely low-income renters, defined in Arizona as a three-member household making $28,850 or less.
"Mobile homes are a much bigger part of our affordable housing stock than people know," said Mark Stapp, who directs Arizona State University's master's degree program in real estate development. "Once it's gone, a lot of people will have no place to go."
Industry groups estimate that more than 20 million people live in about 43,000 mobile home parks across the United States.
"We are in the deepest affordable housing crisis we've ever experienced," said Joanna Carr, acting head of the Arizona Housing Coalition. "Housing for many people is getting completely out of reach. It's very dire."
Ken Anderson, president of the Manufactured Housing Industry of Arizona, said trying to bring an old park up to modern standards can be cost-prohibitive for owners, requiring replacement of electrical and sewage infrastructure for newer homes.
At least six such communities have been torn down in Arizona in the last 18 months, he said, adding that Grand Canyon University "bent over backwards" to help residents more than other park owners.
"A lot of these parks are 70 years old," said Anderson, noting an uptick in demolitions of older communities for redevelopment. "It's going to be a big problem down the line."
Efforts underway to revitalize old mobile homes have limits. Despite their name, most aren't truly mobile, and moving them can be very costly. The oldest homes are often too decrepit to move at all.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced $225 million in grants to governments, tribes and nonprofits to preserve mobile homes, but the money can only be used to replace, not repair dwellings built before 1976, which are common at older parks.
Earlier this year, Vermont announced a mobile home improvement program to be funded by $4 million in federal money. It aims to help park owners prepare vacant or abandoned lots for new mobile homes and help owners of mobile homes install new foundations and make their dwellings more habitable.
In Riverdale, Utah, the last of about 50 families at Lesley's Mobile Home Park must leave by the end of May for construction of new apartments and townhouses.
"The state laws don't protect us," said Jason Williams, who sold his mobile home for half what he asked for and will now live in a motorhome.
Some old parks weren't originally envisioned as permanent housing.
Florida City Campsite and RV Camp was built decades ago for vacationers headed to the Florida Keys or the Everglades, but the dilapidated park eventually became home to retirees on fixed incomes and young families on government assistance. Florida City, the southernmost municipality in Miami-Dade County, sold it two years ago for a new townhouse project.
Cities often don't like older parks because unlike other housing, they don't generate property taxes for municipal services. Rundown parks can also be eyesores, depressing the worth of nearby properties even as the value of the land the mobile homes sit on has increased exponentially.
In Phoenix, Grand Canyon University said in a statement that it "waited as long as it could" to build new student housing after buying Periwinkle in 2016. "Now, with the need to expand, the university has raised funds to provide multiple layers of assistance to tenants at Periwinkle." Periwinkle had originally been bought seven years ago as land that the university could use when needed to build more housing.
The university said it initially gave residents six months to leave, then extended the deadline to 13 months. It offered free rent for the first five months of this year, early departure compensation, relocation assistance and some household goods.
Many park residents are Spanish-speaking immigrants earning minimum wage as landscapers or restaurant workers. There are also retirees living on Social Security.
"We haven't found anything under $1,800. That's way above what we can afford," Alondra Ruiz Vazquez said of apartment rents. She said the couple's mobile home is too old to move and must be abandoned.
"It's really taken a toll on our health, mental state of mind."
Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, has a housing shortfall of more than 74,000 units. Zillow.com lists the median monthly rental price for all bedrooms and property types in Phoenix at $2,095.
More than 20 families have moved out of Periwinkle in recent months, leaving behind weed-strewn lots. The rusting hulks of several mobile dwellings with rotting wooden stairs were left behind.
Residents wanted an additional 18-month eviction moratorium or a zoning change to stave off their departure indefinitely.
The Phoenix City Council this spring decided to let the eviction proceed, but set aside $2.5 million in federal funds to help mobile home park residents facing eviction in the future.
CEO Mike Trailor of the nonprofit Trellis, who once headed the Arizona Department of Housing, said the organization is working with the university to help Periwinkle families find apartments and arrange to move mobile homes that can be moved.
Still, Phoenix activist Salvador Reza said most families face uncertain futures.
"Some of them might move in with another family, with an uncle or aunt," he said. "Some might go out into the streets and become part of the homeless."
A new law in Arizona recently increased state funds for owners forced to move their mobile homes because of redevelopment to $12,500 for a single-section dwelling and $20,000 for a multi-section.
Those who must abandon their home because of precarious condition can now get $5,000 for a single-section home and up to $8,000 for a multi-section.
Periwinkle resident Graciela Beltran said it's not enough.
"They want my house?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Give me a house that is equal to mine. I am not asking for anything more."
Alondra Ruiz Vazquez walks towards her home at the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. Residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Children play outside their homes at the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. Residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)
One of three entrances to the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park is fenced off from the street, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. The remaining residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)
What was once a public street into the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park now is fenced off, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. Residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Alondra Ruiz Vazquez walks outside her home at the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. Residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Home are overrun with weeds at the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. Residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Mobile home residents Graciela Beltran and her son on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix Ariz. Dozens of families face eviction from there mobile homes to make room for student housing. (AP Photo/Ty O'Neil)
The back wall of the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park separates a recently cleared lot being prepared for construction and student housing, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. Residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)
The second of three entrances to the Periwinkle Mobile Home Park is fenced off from the street, Thursday, April 11, 2023, in Phoenix. Remaining residents of the park are facing an eviction deadline of May 28 due to a private university's plan to redevelop the land for student housing. (AP Photo/Matt York)