Cranberry holds informational meeting for Oak Springs community members
CRANBERRY TWP — Starting on Thursday, Feb. 1, residents of the Oak Springs Mobile Home Park in Cranberry Township will have to pay a $681 lot fee per month, a 42% rent increase from last year.
“It’s a shame it had to come to this,” said Richelle Christy, a resident at the 55-and-older mobile home community. “There are a lot of helpful avenues to turn to, but most likely, we’re not going to be able to stay here.”
Christy was one of the residents in attendance at the Informational meeting for Oak Spring residents held at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Representatives from the township and the Butler County Housing Authority as well as state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, and state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, spoke Wednesday to try to provide avenues of support for the mobile home park residents.
“Some of your faces are going to haunt me,” Scialabba said, “because there is not that much that we can do aside from just trying to help in terms of everything we’re talking about today.”
On Nov. 17, residents of Oak Springs received a letter telling them their park had been purchased by COARE Communities LLC. In the letter, residents were informed of the 42% increase.
Most residents, like Paul and Lillian Wagle, are on a fixed income. They said that they think the price increase will cause a lot of the residents to move out of the mobile home park.
“They’re going to squeeze it out of us,” Lillian said. “Everyone’s going to have to move out because they can’t afford it. We’re all over 55, and we all live on fixed incomes. It’s just not right.”
Paul, an Army veteran, and his wife have lived in the park for 38 years. He said he thinks the rent increase is just the beginning of the price hikes.
“I looked on Google at companies like COARE, and what they do is these companies overpay to buy the place,” Paul said “But then every year thereafter, there is a 4% to 6% increase.”
Township manger Dan Santoro said the township was aware of the situation almost immediately after the sale took place and wanted to get representatives from the community to help provide any avenues that could help the residents.
“The purpose of this evening is, let me first say, is not to disappoint you, be we don’t have any magic answers for this situation here,” Santoro said. “What we hope to do is provide resources and information available to you, so that you all can take advantage of any resources available.”
Ed Mauk, the chief executive officer of the Butler County Housing Authority, told residents about several programs available to seniors, including financial counseling services, available vouchers and rebate programs.
“We’re in the business to help people and to help people with housing,” Mauk said.
Mauk said, however, he was unable to do anything about the rent increase.
“We have no control over your landlord, what they charge and the polices that they operate under,” Mauk said. “What we do have are housing options and things that are available.”
Pennsylvania does not allow for regulations on rent, according to the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951.
“We don’t have laws on the books that protect seniors from predatory situations like this,” said Walter O’Neil, an Oak Springs Mobile Home Park resident.
Vogel said there were several pieces of legislation in the state House and Senate that address drastic rent increases and predatory practices in the manufactured home community.
House Bill 1808 would require the owners of manufactured home communities to let residents know at least 120 days prior to the sale of the community. Currently land owners are only required to give a 60 day notice.
House Bill 805 would require manufactured-home property owners to notify residents 180 days before a rent increase. Currently owners are only required to give a 60 day notice.
Senate Bill 861 would limit the amount manufactured-home property owners could increase rent. The bill would not allow “the amount of the increased rent or fee-payable rent (to) exceed any percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the immediately preceding calendar year.”
“I’ll see if there is some way we can get these pieces of legislation moving,” Vogel said.
O’Neil spoke on behalf of fellow community members at the meeting and said these bills would “likely not require any taxpayer money” and “would be financially responsible.”
“Most of our residents have found a way to live within our means without the assistance of different agencies that offer help,” O’Neil said. “This gives people a sense of self-sufficiency that is empowering.”
