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My granddaughter has no where else to live her mother and step father on drugs, father unemployed and homeless. I am her only hope of a stable life and now I have to leave my home because of her. I cannot afford housing anywhere else as I am retired on ss retirement with mobility issues. What can I do if anything to stay in my home?

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You’ll almost certainly have to move considering you’re in Florida. It’s very common for people in your situation to be evicted there.

People pay a premium to live in child free communities for a reason. It’s not fair to everyone else in the park to make exceptions to the rules.
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Reply to ZippyZee
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The reason in my community - which is a whole city in itself - is that the over-55 crowd moved here in order to enjoy facilities and amenities that cater to them. Golf courses, pools, computer, crafts, hobby facilities including radio control modeling of boats, planes, cars, and trains. It's one big camp for adults. If kids were allowed to live here, the adult-aimed facilities would be overrun, and those who lived here have already raised their families and don't want that.

BUT - we have playgrounds for the kids plus swimming classes for them; they fish in our lakes, attend special programs such as crafts and day camp at holiday times, and they are welcome at entertainment as long as it's not a adult thing where they'd be in the way, such as underfoot while their elders are learning to tango. In summer, kids have special hours at all pools. There's a grandparents' club so they can arrange play dates with other grandparents. They can stay for lengthy times while their parents are on a longish trip. We are friendly and welcoming, but this cannot be their legal residence. They cannot run and play freely in others' yards, and they cannot drive golf carts.

Rules might be bent for someone in OP's case, but probably only temporarily as an emergency.
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Reply to Fawnby
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I believe that this 55+ rule applies to the owner of the mobile home.

There must be someone on your HOA board who can give you the 'rules'. I actually think it may be against the law to discriminate against someone b/c of age.

Don't assume the worst!

I had a friend who has custody of 3 grandkids. At one point she was facing losing her home and she was looking into 55+ mobile home parks. There were a lot of situations where grandma had custody of a couple of grands. Not one of the parks refused to rent to her with the kids in tow.

Good Luck (on all accounts!)
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Reply to Midkid58
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I think that this is perhaps something for discussion with those who manage your park.
We could have no idea what you might do in this circumstance.
I think that you might have better luck with adding the word "temporary" to this custody, as it may be just that if the couple gets clean.

I would say you have temporary custody due to family illness. See how that works. If there are not parties and such then this may just be sort of ignored and under the carpet, but again this is up to you to find out for your own community; they are all different.

I sure do wish you the very best of luck.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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There’s been an exception to fair housing rules since 1988 for 55 and over communities. You can ask, but I wouldn’t be surprised if told “no” as probably several places have told others who want to move in grandchildren. It obviates the purpose of the 55 and up exemption.
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Reply to PeggySue2020
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My inlaws lived in a 55 plus mobile home community down near Ft Myers FL. They had extreme rules regarding children. Children could visit but had to follow really restrictive rules and could not live there.

I'd check with the park management or HOA management and feel them out.

There are a lot of mobile home communities in Florida that allow families with children. You may need to move to one of these more welcoming communities.

My county in Florida, Alachua, has government agencies that help people find affordable housing. Those with children, and women, are prioritized and relocated to housing in less than 30 days.

Also, since you are caring for a minor child you may qualify for some extra assistance money from the state of Florida. The state would rather have the child cared by by you, a family member, than in foster care.
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Reply to brandee
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I have no advice to offer, just wanted to say you sound like an awesome person. I hope it all works out for you and your granddaughter. She is lucky to have you.
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Reply to Hothouseflower
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anonymous1768885 Sep 16, 2024
Maybe the granddaughter is lucky and maybe not. Just because grandma is willing to take in granddaughter does not mean grandma is a nice person. I know about this first hand from MIL who took in two grand kids and is nice to one but emotionally abusive to the other.
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I live in a 55+ community. Only one person of a married or cohabiting couple in a household needs to be over 55 to live here, but there are strict rules about children. They may visit for certain time periods, but they are not allowed to live here as residents.
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Reply to Fawnby
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You need to thoroughly check the laws/covenants of your community.
A friend of mine lives in a mobile home park that is 55+ and they also have the same restriction they do not even allow grandkids to trick or treat in the community.!
Anything can be fought the question is are you willing to spend the money on a case you will most likely lose. the parks are generally owned by companies with deep pockets and they do not want 1 case setting precedence and "ticking off" the whole community.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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Sometimes these 55 and over communities can be tricky. If you have legal custody of the child that will probably make the difference about whether she can stay or not. So will the fact that it's an individual mobile home and not a senior apartment complex. Do you have legal custody of her or is it an informal arrangement? It has to be court legal.

Also, if you have legal custody of the child, you are collecting for her from either your Social Security or the state is paying because she is a foster child.

Talk to the mobile home association where you live and explain your situation. They may be reasonable to you considering your situation.
Would they force a married couple out if the husband is over 55 and the wife is a younger woman and she gets pregnant and has a child while they live there?

You just have to find out what their rules and polices will be on this.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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MeDolly May 7, 2024
Yes, they would evict the family, happens everyday here in Florida.
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