Trailer Parks

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Often times people believe that they know someone based on their outward appearance: from their hair, to their clothes, and even their homes, people are clumped into categories that they cannot avoid. More often than not, a person may be stereotyped simply because of the neighborhood they reside in. If someone lives in a lower-income neighborhood, they are often seen as poor and sometimes uneducated. However, what happens when there are distinct differences within the same residence? Trailer parks contain a diverse group of people, not a single person is the same. Although it might be difficult for one to believe that someone willingly chooses to live in an area such as a trailer park, personal identity might …show more content…
(Olson). Not everyone that lives in these places are poor, but they are not necessarily rich, however, even celebrities like Pamela Anderson and Matthew McConaughey live in Paradise Cove, a trailer park in Malibu where the homes can cost up to $2.5 million and have marble floors (Geoghegan). This goes to show just how diverse these parks can be. Although many feel as though they do not need a large and extravagant home to be happy when they can afford and provide their families with the things they need in a smaller home, some may have no other option. First, the location of one’s home typically leads people to believe that those who inhabit these areas are rich or poor, however, that is not always the case. While strolling through the trailer park just outside of DeWitt, it became evident that not all who live there are the same. Some of the homes were more put together than others. Their homes were larger in size and the outward appearance was aesthetically pleasing. Several of the homes had appealing …show more content…
One of the most considerable advantages is the affordability. People that live in these homes are home owners, but they do not have to pay property tax, nor do they have to keep up with the yardwork and utilities. Mobile communities are often split into categories, too. There is age restricted neighborhood, which consist of people over the age of 55, as retirement settlements. This allows retirees to live in a more peaceful environment with people of their own age. On the other hand, there are places that are more family oriented. Often times, these homes require proper background checks and safety measures to ensure the safety of the entire community and the children who reside in this area (Adkins “Advantages and Disadvantages”). However, some trailer park owners, like Lori Lee, used her property to rent out homes to sex offenders. When she first started out as an owner, she was a family park, when drugs became a problem. She was told that if she allowed sex offenders to live in her park that the drugs would leave, and she did just that. Outside these parks a sign states, “Adults only. No children,” and on her business card she describes this housing as “sex offender housing” and a “habitat for offenders”. When an investigator asked her how often these people leave her parks she said that they stay forever because they have nowhere else to go (Neate). Some may see this as a disadvantage