Residents facing eviction get support from the Catholic Church
SANTA MARTHA CATHOLIC CHURCH CELEBRATES THE NATIVITY AT PALM TRAILER PARK
Miami – The 160 families who live in Palm Trailer Park will host the Nativity to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to avoid eviction from their homes scheduled for March 2008. Father Alvaro Pinzon and Father Federico Capdepon, Pastors of the Church of Santa Martha, will lead a procession through Palm Trailer Park to bring public attention to the struggle for affordable housing for mobile home residents.
Over the past few weeks residents have witnessed the demolition of several mobile homes despite the approval in October of a county wide moratorium on redevelopment in mobile home parks. Residents have organized their Home Owners Association to avoid displacement from their North Miami neighborhood.
As a part of this process Palm Trailer Park residents recently participated in a focus group, organized by South Florida Jobs with Justice, so county officials could hear recommendations directly from residents, which will be part of the report officials must present in February.
Mobile home parks are the last existing affordable housing stock in Miami-Dade county. The estimated total residency of mobile home parks is between 59,819 – 102,000 persons. These large parcels, located in well developed areas, represent land of prime interest to developers who may not include any type of housing, let alone affordable housing, in their projects.
WHAT: A call to end mobile home park closures
-Press Conference with Palm Trailer Park residents and Blue Lakes resident attorney John De Leon
-Procession and nativity with Fathers Federico Capdepon and Alvaro Pinzon, Santa Martha Church
WHEN: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 5:30 pm
WHERE: Palm Trailer Park, 12000 NE 16th Avenue. North Miami