Mobile home park residents seek help from state representatives

More than 40 families in Brawley that were displaced from their mobile home park are asking state representatives for help.

Earlier this week they spoke with Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia to get some answers.

We first reported on the displacement of over 40 families here at the Brawley Mobile Park back in September.

Now about 7 months later the property has been sold and residents are in need of assistance in relocating their families.

Over 10 residents were present at the legislation update Wednesday morning held at the Brawley Chamber of Commerce, many with questions to ask.

One resident said that because the majority of residents were Latinos, they have been treated unfairly and stepped on after living there for more than 15 years.

Assemblymember Garcia seemed to be aware of the situation as he had already requested assistance for the residents.

“We’ve also requested from the county to consider doing a workshop after work hours in Brawley, come to the people that are in need of these services and information, to help walk individuals through this process,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia of the 56th District.

Council members from the City of Brawley were also on hand and addressed questions from concerned residents.

“Unfortunately the mobile home park is not in conditions where they can continue living there, so the county of imperial and the city of Brawley have been working together to try to assist them with relocating, but it has been an issue because a lot of these people do not qualify,” explained Norma Kastner-Jauregui, Councilmember, City of Brawley.

Jauregui says that the lack of qualification could be as simple as the residents not being informed of resources available.

“I believe there is still about 40 families that have not been able to be accommodated, so they find themselves in a situation where they cannot live there and yet they haven’t found another place to live,” added Jauregui.

We’re told the new owner is in the process of assessing the value of the trailer homes so that he can make an offer to the owners, hoping that that would help them with their relocation.