Mobile Home Park Discriminaton

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By Debbie Williams Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Mobile Home Park Discriminaton

Published: Fri, June 27, 2008 - 5:30 pm

Debbie Williams

Home sweet home is not so sweet for parent living in one Daphne mobile home park.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says the owners of the park are charging renters with children more than they do those without kids.
In a quiet, Daphne mobile home park, federal housing officials say there is a serious problem. "I told him a long time ago that he's doing wrong." Russel Strasser has lived here more than 20 years. "He runs the park so he's going to do what he wants to do, I guess."
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develoment, owners Arthur and Pina Witherington discriminate against families with children by charging them more rent. That violates the Fair Housing Act, which among other things, specifically mentions family status and children under the age or 18.
"He'll tell you if somebody spends the night he's charging," says Strasser. "If you got kids he's charging. He's charging extra. You got a grand baby that wants to come over he's going to charge you extra."
We spoke with a lot of residents who didn't want to appear on camera who say it's common knowledge that different families pay different rent here. In a phone conversation one of the owners told News Five they didn't want to say anything because of the litigation.
"I was hurt very hurt about it because they are very good people." Debbie Doane says her landlords are getting a bad rap. "I think it's very wrong that people are doing that to Mr. And Mrs. Witherington they're very good people."
That maybe up to a judge to decide. The Witheringtons are fighting the charges. It could be expensive if they lose, the maximum fine is sixteen thousand dollars for every violation.

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Just because you are poor doesn’t mean that people are allowed to discriminate against you. What happened to this supposed free country that we live in? Say, I am poor… but I have 2 children; the fact that someone will charge me more money for the merely because of my children is border line illegal, and possibly completely illegal. It’s wrong and needs to be dealt with. Who cares if the owner of the park is a nice person. Nice people do bad things for money.

Posted by amber-marie on 07/07/08 - 2:53 pm • Report Abuse

amber-marie , well then i would make sure i obeyed the rules. sometimes we all have to eat crow. save up and move.

Posted by rosepetal on 07/07/08 - 8:25 am • Report Abuse

some people can’t afford to move....

Posted by amber-marie on 07/07/08 - 1:13 am • Report Abuse

unknown2008, if i did not like what was going on i would move. its cheaper than an attorney.

Posted by rosepetal on 07/06/08 - 8:36 pm • Report Abuse

It appears there are different rules for different occupants. Sounds like to me that some of the people that live there are afraid to comment as they are afraid of what might happen to them. The picture as a “whole” needs to be looked at, not just this situation. The rules or whatever need to be the same for everyone that lives there, no exceptions! Truth be known, this has probably happened more than this time and someone just came forward now!

Posted by unknown2008 on 07/06/08 - 8:06 pm • Report Abuse

I would think it would be a bit Ifie to discriminate on charges money wise if you have many different family sizes in the same trailer park and occupying the same size space. But as stated if you were aware of this to begin with, why are you there ?

Posted by carl on 06/30/08 - 7:20 am • Report Abuse

the owner of the trailor park has a right to rent to who he chooses. rather than charge people more with children i would just make it an all adult trailor park. i am sure the owner had all the charging in the lease the people should not have moved there if they did not like the terms of the lease.

Posted by rosepetal on 06/30/08 - 5:42 am • Report Abuse

I herd of this happing in other trailer parks in Baldwin counth. And it not fair to charge you if you have compiney come and stay with you a couple days and if you have childrenit not right charge ever one the same.And for Debbie Doane she must not have children or grand children or eneyone that wont to visit her so she dosent have her rent increased because of it. She must be a fole lonly person.

Posted by LPJ1959 on 06/27/08 - 8:38 pm • Report Abuse