ORLANDO – Residents of Lake Downey Mobile Home Park in Orlando were forcibly evicted on Tuesday morning, leaving families with only a few minutes to gather their most essential belongings. Lynette Colon, a mother of four, described the traumatic experience of being awakened by law enforcement deputies pounding on her door. “I thought I was in a nightmare,” said Colon, who pleaded with the officer that she had nowhere else to go. Shockingly, she was given a mere five minutes to vacate the premises.
Colon had been living in her mobile home for approximately a year, paying a monthly rent of $1,600. Despite the high cost, she endured living in a neighborhood plagued by crime and with no access to water for months. However, due to her disability and limited income, she struggled to find alternative housing options that were both suitable and affordable. “It’s not okay what they’re doing to us,” expressed Colon, feeling dehumanized by the treatment she and her fellow residents received.
Faith United Methodist Church, situated across the street from the dilapidated neighborhood, has been providing support to those affected. Angel Coleman, the food pantry coordinator at the church, described the deteriorating conditions in the community over the past few months. She noted that the area resembled a disaster zone, comparable to a Third World country. Coleman and other organizations have joined forces to distribute water and restore a sense of dignity to the displaced residents. “We see desperate people just trying to figure out what they’re going to do,” added Coleman.
It has come to light that the property was sold, and the new owner has accumulated over a million dollars in fines from various authorities for numerous violations at the mobile home park. According to online records, as of November 7th, 2023, the owner owes $1,489,000 for fire code violations, $823,000 for zoning violations, and $511,000 for trash violations. Additionally, the owner has faced fines and lawsuits from other entities over the years, including accusations of not paying for services rendered and a foreclosure on the property due to unpaid debts.
The City of Orlando has placed a lien on the property after fines totaling nearly $300,000 were left unpaid. Despite attempts to reach the property owner for comment, no substantial response was obtained. When contacted, a woman associated with the property briefly mentioned drug and violence issues as reasons for the closure but refused to provide further details.
Coleman, advocating for accountability, questioned why no one was being held responsible for the deplorable conditions of the trailer park. In May, Mayor Demings urged the property’s prospective buyer, Pique Land Trust, to devise a plan for the current residents. Without such a plan, the mayor warned that all the residents would be left homeless, placing a greater burden on society. However, the county stated that they never received any plans from the buyer.
As for Colon and her children, their future remains uncertain. She expressed her reluctance to sleep in her car or leave her kids with someone else. Colon has applied for an apartment and sought assistance from a local resource center in hopes of finding stability amidst the upheaval.
