Home ownership has historically served to protect people from market volatility.
Unfortunately, for the residents of Li’l Abner Trailer Home Park, which is located at 11239 N.W. 4th Terrace, that is not the case. They have been fighting since November against eviction notices for redevelopment plans.
On Dec. 23, the residents of Li’l Abner received much needed assistance—a class action lawsuit was filed on their behalf against the city of Sweetwater and Miami-Dade County, according to a story by NBC 6.
The Battle
Residents awoke on Nov. 14 to eviction notices posted on their doors, stating they must leave their mobile homes by May 19, 2025, because the trailer park is slated to be rezoned.
In an article published for the Miami Herald, economic mobility reporter Max Klaver explains that Florida law requires CREI Holdings, the owner of Li’l Abner, to offer tenants financial assistance for their relocation—$3,000 for single-section mobile homes and $6,000 for multi-section mobile homes.
The company promised an additional $14,000 to anyone who left by Jan. 31, $7,000 to those who left by March 31 and $3,000 to those who stayed until April 30.
When the average rent in Miami is approximately $2,118 per month, according to Apartments.com, the offer was paltry at best and disrespectful at worst.
More than 900 trailers are currently in the park housing a diverse group of highly vulnerable populations, including low-income residents, people with disabilities, children and the elderly.
Although many residents actually own their trailers, they do not own the land beneath them.
The evictions are legal under Florida Statute 723.061(d) 2., which states that residents may be evicted—with at least six-months notice—when a change in land-use is projected to take place.
Unified Neighbors
On Nov. 18, a protest took place in front of Sweetwater City Hall. City commissioners met for the first time since the notices were posted while demonstrators gathered to make their voices heard. Across the street, police officers guarded the entrance to City Hall.
Eventually, the protest moved into the main trailer park and efforts to formally adopt a Homeowners’ Association began in an attempt to give some bargaining power to those affected.
However, collection efforts were disorganized and confusion broke out regarding who the paperwork was going to.
Vuvuzelas, bucket drums and defiant chants rang out into the night as tenants marched up to the intersection of West Flagler and 112th Street.
Tensions continued to rise as the residents of Li’l Abner aired their grievances over a small karaoke set up by a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
On Dec. 4, 61-year-old Vivian Hernandez was arrested while submitting her rent check at Li’l Abner’s management office, after expressing her frustrations about the eviction, CBS News reported. She was charged with disorderly conduct, breach of peace, trespassing and resisting arrest.
In an Instagram post by OnlyInDade, an officer is seen using force when arresting Hernandez, who failed to comply with orders to leave the office.
Two weeks after her encounter with the Sweetwater Police, Hernandez suffered a stroke. She told the Miami-Herald, “I feel impotent, I can’t tell you how much fear I feel,” as she now relies on the support of a neighbor to complete daily tasks and on a cane to walk.
The War Ahead
The lawsuit was filed on the grounds that CREI acted out of accordance with Florida Statute 723.061(d) 2b., which states that a park owner may not increase in residents’ rent within 90 days before giving notice of a change in land-use.
The legal action seeks lawyers fees and $50,000 in damages for every 190 residents named.
Critically, an injunction was filed to halt the sale of the land, relieving the initial worries of displacement. With shelter secured, the residents can breathe a little easier.
A new year has begun, but that doesn’t mean yesterday’s problems are gone, and the residents of Li’l Abner know this all too well.
