‘It is not safe’: These South Bend trailer park residents face a chilling choice in sweltering heat as they say park management has told them to remove their window A/C units or risk eviction

Cooling crackdown comes at the worst time

Since September, 2024, Countryside Village’s management has been crystal clear. "If you have window A/C units, you must remove them,” management stated in a letter sent to residents, according to WNDU. “After three violations, evictions can and will be filed."

What makes this situation particularly tricky is that while many residents actually own their trailers, they pay lot rent fees to YES Communities, which owns Countryside Village as well as hundreds of other trailer parks throughout the country. YES Communities’s guidelines, which all residents must sign with their lease, explicitly state that window A/C units are not permitted.

With South Bend summer highs historically averaging 83ºF in the month of July, residents could now face potentially hazardous indoor temperatures.

“With my medical issues, no it is not safe,” said another Countryside Village resident. “I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, and my doctor physically wrote me a doctor’s note that I have to have an A/C unit in my trailer.”

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Residents bemoan unfair management rules

Stephen Dempsey, who lives in Countryside Village, is one of the fortunate residents with central air, but he worries about his neighbors who aren’t as lucky.

"I think they're putting a lot of pressure on people unfairly, especially a lot of the longtime residents who are on fixed incomes,” said Dempsey. “They can't afford to just go buy a whole brand-new air conditioner unit."

And he's not wrong — portable air conditioners (which are the most likely alternative to window A/C units) typically cost between $300 and $700 at major retailers like Home Depot and Lowes, with additional costs for proper venting and installation. For those on Social Security or receiving disability benefits, that's no small expense.

Dempsey also knows the dangers that a lack of air conditioning can have on elderly and infirm residents. "Especially for an older resident, anybody with any kind of health issues. It can be dangerous," said Dempsey.

And he's not exaggerating. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heat-related illnesses cause more than 700 deaths annually in the United States, with elderly people and those with chronic health conditions at the highest risk.

YES Communities has not issued a statement on the situation at Countryside Village, despite WNDU's multiple attempts to learn why it just started enforcing this long-standing ban. However, the situation at Countryside Village has stirred local politicians to step up for the trailer park residents.

State Senator David Niezgodski has formally requested Attorney General Todd Rokita to investigate, calling the situation "not just a housing issue; it's a public health emergency," according to the Indiana Senate Democrats website.

What to do if you're a renter in a similar situation

If you're facing something similar to the situation in Countryside Village, there are several steps you can take before removing A/C units that could be essential for your health and wellbeing:

1. Check your lease for the exact policy details on window A/C units.
2. Get medical documentation if heat affects your health and window A/C units are not permitted.
3. Request accommodation in writing with management for health conditions that require A/C in your home.
4. Contact local legal aid for assistance if management isn't cooperative.
5. Contact your local news outlet in the hopes of drawing attention to your situation, as the residents of Countryside Village had done.
6. Report potential violations to your state attorney general.

The Fair Housing Act protects individuals with disabilities, and extreme heat sensitivity related to certain medical conditions may qualify for reasonable accommodations.