Affordable housing development to displace thousands from Florida mobile home park

The impending closure of the Li’l Abner Mobile Home Park in Florida will displace over 900 residents, primarily low-income homeowners, who have limited options for affordable housing in Miami-Dade County. Hamilton Dos Santos, who recently purchased a mobile home for $160,000, received a notice that his investment would soon be rendered worthless. CREI Holdings, the park's owner, plans to convert the land into affordable housing for families earning between 60% to 140% of the area’s median income, but this development comes at a significant cost for the current residents. Many of these individuals have invested their life savings into their homes, making the loss particularly devastating. The situation highlights the broader issue of affordable housing shortages in Miami-Dade, where rising property values continue to push low-income families out of the market.

As the deadline for vacating approaches, the emotional toll on displaced residents is palpable, with many feeling their investments have been erased overnight. The Urban Group, overseeing the transition, has stated that current tenants will have priority access to new affordable housing options, but this does little to alleviate the immediate crisis. The story exemplifies the tension between urban development and the rights of existing low-income residents facing displacement.