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Richmond’s mobile home community living in “dangerous conditions”
3/14/2025 | 2m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Richmond’s mobile home residents in need of expensive repairs
Mobile home park residents in Richmond say they are living in unsafe conditions – collapsing ceilings, damaged floors, leaking roofs, lack of insulation. But since they own their homes, they’re responsible for repairs... even though many are barely making ends meet. Will city leaders consider their needs in the upcoming budget?
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VPM News is a local public television program presented by VPM
VPM News
Richmond’s mobile home community living in “dangerous conditions”
3/14/2025 | 2m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Mobile home park residents in Richmond say they are living in unsafe conditions – collapsing ceilings, damaged floors, leaking roofs, lack of insulation. But since they own their homes, they’re responsible for repairs... even though many are barely making ends meet. Will city leaders consider their needs in the upcoming budget?
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipKEYRIS MANZANARES: Dangerous, unsafe living conditions are the reality for many families at Rudds Mobile Home Park in Richmonds Southside.
But fixing these homes isn't easy or cheap.
Earlier this month, residents involved with RISC, a local justice ministry organization, invited Mayor Danny Avula to visit their homes so he could see the issues firsthand.
The offer came after Avula declined to commit to funding the city's only mobile home repair program in his upcoming budget proposal.
As with most mobile home parks, residents like Josefina, who asked us not to use her last name, pay a monthly lot rent.
[Speaking Spanish] KEYRIS MANZANARES: Josefina says she showed Avula the damage on her kitchen ceiling, how her bathroom ceiling is one piece of cardboard away from collapsing, how she has no central heating or AC and how she needs help upgrading her electrical system.
[Speaking Spanish] KEYRIS MANZANARES: Down the road, Sucelys, who also asked us not to use her last name, her main concern is a lot harder to see.
She says her home lacks insulation, which she worries could create more health problems for her children, who have already been diagnosed with asthma.
[Speaking Spanish] KEYRIS MANZANARES: As the mayor finalizes his proposed city budget next month, he says, DANNY AVULA: We have to address some of the housing needs of our community, and we need to be committed and consistent about putting money behind that.
And so that's the work that I'm going to do in the remaining weeks I have to mold the budget.
KEYRIS MANZANARES: In the meantime, Rudds residents are left waiting.
Hoping their pleas on this day had an impact.
Keyris Manzanares, VPM News.
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