SWEETWATER, FLA. (WSVN) - Residents at a Sweetwater mobile home park are being forced to vacate, but while many have already moved out, others have chosen to stay and fight back.
7News cameras on Sunday captured a resident of Li’l Abner Mobile Home Park trashing a notice of eviction that states everyone has to leave by Monday.
“I think this letter is…,” said resident Karel Hernandez as he shrugged. “I say this will not work, is because we have a lawyer.”
Many of the homes are now abandoned, with shattered windows, open doors and trash on the streets. Some of the mobile homes are not even on their proper foundation.
During all of this, residents said they have been left to stay in unsafe conditions, stating asbestos had been affecting the families left behind.
“There is hazardous material in this debris,” said one protestor. She says she has been targeted ever since she volunteered to help the people of Lil Abner organize.
She, however, remains steadfast in her mission to help.
“I just don’t want to see injustice go on, and corruption in our city,” she said.
While many residents have left their homes, some indicated they are not going anywhere.
“I don’t wanna go nowhere, because I don’t have no money to go, I don’t have no place to go,” said Karel.
When asked what he plans to do, Karel replied, “I don’t know.”
Li’l Abner Mobile Home Park says they are going to turn the community into a workforce affordable housing unit.
Many like Vivian Hernandez, are part of a class action lawsuit and are continuing to pay rent and to fight.
Vivian, who has lived in the mobile park community for more than 35 years, said their lawyer told them that this fight is not over.
“Because I have here in my phone a message from the lawyer that says we don’t have to move from here,” she said on Spanish.
But as the demolition continues, others are concerned, worried about where they will go next.
Juan Adam Rodriguez has been a Li’l Abner resident since the 1970s.
“I’ve got no place to go!” he said. “I got no roof, nothing. My friend, too, he lives with his mom, who is 82 years old,” he said.
As for resident Juan Antonio Arcera, he said he’s just sitting and waiting.
“I don’t know yet,” he said in Spanish.
As the last day is here, others are concerned, worrying where they are going to go next.
“I’m going to stay,” said Juan Rodriguez.
“Until when?”
“Until the end. Until a lawyer tells me to leave.”
Several other homes in the area have since been demolished or relocated.
Despite what the notice of eviction states, these residents are hoping they have more time.
Monday morning, residents continue to stand outside their homes, refusing to move, protesting the demolition.
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