Florida’s mobile home parks, long seen as a vital source of affordable housing, are now at the center of an eviction crisis. Duval County holds the state’s highest eviction filing rate for mobile home parks, more than triple the Florida average, leaving vulnerable residents with devastating losses and few options for recovery.
Skyrocketing Eviction Rates
Duval County’s mobile home park eviction filing rate stands at 7.6%, compared to the state average of about 2.5%, according to new research. Experts warn this surge is stripping away one of the last affordable housing options in Florida.
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A Lifeline With Risks
Florida ranks among the states with the most mobile home parks, offering lower monthly rents compared to traditional rentals. But unlike single-family homeowners, mobile home residents rent the land under their property, leaving them highly vulnerable to eviction without the same legal protections.
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The Case of Bazil Trotman
Eighty-two-year-old Bazil Trotman bought his Jacksonville mobile home for under $100,000, paying nearly $800 in monthly lot rent. After a dispute with his community manager, he faced eviction.“She made up a story that I choked her, that I’m stalking her, that I drew a gun on her,” Trotman said, calling the eviction illegal. Police found no evidence, but the eviction proceeded, and his home is now listed for sale by the property owner…