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'Roller coaster ride' continues for I-70 Mobile Home Park residents

Posted at 11:22 PM, Nov 27, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-28 06:34:56-05

INDIANAPOLIS — On the eve of Thanksgiving, you're probably thinking about the massive feast that Thursday will bring. However, residents at the I-70 Mobile Home Park are wondering if they will even have a home where they can eat come Christmas.

Tonia Clark said she is preparing herself to live in her truck.

"Right now, I'm looking at putting my stuff in storage and buying a truck cap from the back of this truck," Clark said. "When you can't afford to live anywhere, what else are you supposed to do."

Clark has been fighting for fairness and a place to live since August, but four months later, she still hasn't found a place she can afford wit the $775 a month she receives from Social Security.

"I'm tired. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of going through this. I'm tired of fighting of fighting to get my head above water to turn around and be homeless again," Clark said.

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The Attorney General's office said residents will either receive the title to their mobile homes so they can move them or they will get their money back to find a new home. However, in Clark's case, the $600 she paid for her trailer won't get her very far as the trailer is not in any shape to be moved.

"Most places won't accept it because its too old and it'd probably fall apart," she said. "I mean when its so rusted and bad you go to get your VIN number off it, the VIN number falls of in your hand, would you try to move it?"

For some, the future is a bit more certain. Some residents have already moved out and torn down their homes. Across the park, Jeff Melton said he just learned his trailer is movable and a local company has agreed to move it for free. But now he has to find a place to put it. He called it another stop on a trip of twists and turns.

"It's been nothing but a roller coaster ride. Ups and downs, ups and downs and a lot of tears. I'm not gonna lie, it been a lot of tears. It's been a lot of tears from me shed from it," Melton said.

The Attorney General's office said they are evaluating each resident's situation on a case-by-case basis to determine if they will get their title or a refund. They urge any resident with questions to call their office at 317-232-6330.