'Between a rock and a hard place': Ohio mobile home park deemed uninhabitable after years of neglect and extreme safety issues — and now its remaining senior residents are being forced out

Looking for answers

Kelly says the writing had been on the wall for some time and she wasn’t shocked by the city’s decision.

“Well, we weren’t really a bit surprised because we’ve been after the owner out of Chicago to do the repairs here for the past year, two years,” she said.

According to the broadcaster, notices by the city identified Marisa Garcia and River Side Mobile Home Estate LLC as the property’s owners. They were ordered to fix the problems or the park must be vacated. A city spokesperson told 13 Action News the owners haven’t been in contact with officials since late 2024.

Attempts by journalists to reach out to ownership were mostly unsuccessful. One person who answered a phone call said they were not affiliated with the property, despite their number appearing on a document at the mobile home park. When looking up the company’s Chicago office, 13 Action News reports building managers listed it as unoccupied.

In the meantime, the community’s remaining residents are left scrambling for alternatives. Kelly says she’s looking into filing a class action lawsuit against the owners, per the broadcaster, while city officials say they plan to clean up the property at the owners’ expense.

Invest in real estate without the headache of being a landlord

Imagine owning a portfolio of thousands of well-managed single family rentals or a collection of cutting-edge industrial warehouses. You can now gain access to a $1B portfolio of income-producing real estate assets designed to deliver long-term growth from the comforts of your couch.

The best part? You don’t have to be a millionaire and can start investing in minutes.

Learn More

Where to turn for help

The City of Toledo says it contacted residents to help them find housing options and navigate available resources, such as through the 2-1-1 United Way hotline and other social service partners.

However, affordable housing options may be slim. According to USA Facts, which cites the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the average wait time for subsidized housing in Ohio was 23 months as of 2023.

Where else can people get help if they’re displaced? Here are some additional resources for those who are forced from their homes:

Legal aid societies: Get legal help for eviction defense, tenant rights and navigating housing law through groups such as Legal Aid of Western Ohio and Ohio Legal Help.

Housing nonprofits: Organizations like the Community Shelter Board in Columbus work with local agencies to help individuals find housing solutions.

Mutual aid networks: Local grassroots groups can provide temporary support such as food, supplies or housing assistance.

Faith-based organizations: Many churches and religious groups can provide emergency shelter and meals.