ManufactuRed Housing - The Taft School

Calvin Johnson owns a singlewide with his partner, Angela Simple. Although an older home, built before theimproved HUD-code standards in 1976, they have done their best to maintain it. It may not be what some callbeautiful, but to Calvin and Angela, it has always been home. At least until they received the devastating news thattheir land-lease park in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was closing. As the notice period ends and winter approaches,Calvin remains stumped. He cannot afford to move his home. The park owner did not sell the land, although the waterand power were turned off. Calvin and Angela remained on site, feeling like squatters in their own home. They boughtwater and powered a few lights on batteries. Even so, other necessities were not so easily replaced. Once the parkclosed, the post office stoppeddelivering mail, and without aland line, Angela’s cell phoneserved as their only means ofcommunication. They washed inbathrooms at gasoline stations intown. Even the most basic thingsceased to be easy.Evan Ross draws electricity from his car battery to power a hot plate. He rests inthe doorway of his singlewide and looks out at a park full of abandoned homes. Aline worker at a chicken processing plant, he remains in his home although the parkhas no water. He laughs at how a little problem like no electricity or water made somany people leave their homes. “When I was growing up, we didn’t have electriclight. We had lamplight. That’s why this doesn’t bother me too much. My wife left.She wasn’t staying here anymore. She stays with her mom.” Abandonment hurtsland-lease residents like Evan in much the same way that condemned buildings canbring problems to those who live nearby in urban areas.30 Taft Bulletin Spring 2008