Member-only story
A Step From Homelessness:
Mobile home communities (MHC), aka “trailer parks”
Few grasp reality of life in these tin-can enclaves
I found myself “living” in a mobile home community for a few days while working on a film project in Idaho. I live in my camper-van, and prefer the open spaces of state parks or the free spot offered at “Camp Walmart,” but with temps dipping down to the 30s, I headed to Idaho Falls rare “campground,” a misnomer applied to this, um, community.
I’m frugal, and will freeze in Camp WM before forking out $40+ for a place to park overnight. Because I’m here for a few wintery days, and have grant funding, I held my nose and grabbed one of the last remaining slots in this enclave so I could have heat. $55 a night! And I had to wait for a key to the showers and laundry until the boss showed up on Monday, my last day here. Their rules warn of penalties for using WiFi for streaming videos. Clearly the rules and practices tilt on the side of the owners.
Since I had time before the freezing rains moved in, I took a walk around the perimeter road through this weird collection of affordable housing. Crammed every which way, 200+ house trailers of every vintage and condition, single-wides and doubles, well-kept and shabby, intimately arranged.
