REDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – More than a dozen people living at Long’s Mobile Home Court in Redford Township are facing eviction after the township served them notices to vacate the Plymouth Road property.
Many residents say they are on fixed incomes and have no idea where they will go.
The boarded-up office at the mobile home court is a visible sign of what residents describe as long-absent management.
For those still living there, the situation is dire.
“I have nowhere to go. The street. That’s basically what it is. I have no family members that can take me in,” said resident Laurie Gauthier.
Township cites unsafe conditions, takes ownership after tax foreclosure
Redford Township officials say longstanding infrastructure failures and unsafe living conditions prompted their intervention.
According to the township, officials first became aware several years ago of significant deterioration at the property, including failing infrastructure that posed safety risks to residents and surrounding neighborhoods.
After repeated attempts to engage the private property owner went unanswered, the township initiated enforcement actions.
Following tax foreclosure proceedings, the township acquired ownership of the property.
A comprehensive assessment determined that the extent of infrastructure failure and structural damage made rehabilitation impractical and cost-prohibitive.
Residents say eviction deadline leaves them with few options
Residents say they received notices with a tight deadline and little clarity about what comes next.
“We were supposed to be out by May 27, and it said if we weren’t, they would take us to court to evict us,” said resident Holly Liller.
For many, the financial burden of finding new housing feels insurmountable.
Resident Harold Eugene Clark put it bluntly.
“If we lost our home without any compensation, to where we can go rent a home somewhere else, then we’re lost,” Clark said.
“They might as well incarcerate me so I can have a four-by-eight cell and have the meals brought to me,” he added.
Liller shared similar frustration about the way the process has unfolded.
“The way they’re doing this, to me it’s wrong, and it’s just not right,” she said.
Township pledges support, redevelopment guided by community interests
Township officials say they are taking active measures to stabilize conditions at the site, including addressing blight, removing unauthorized occupants, and resolving public safety hazards. Officials say they are working to ensure residents are relocated safely with appropriate support.
The township noted that the process remains ongoing and will ultimately lead to the redevelopment of the property.
Township leadership emphasized that any future development will be guided by long-term community interests and safety considerations.
Due to pending litigation related to the property, township officials said they are unable to provide additional details at this time.