Burning Issues, Part II

by Diane Nilan · 2009-03-13 12:00:00 UTC
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(Part I is here.)

The trailer that burned down was caused by an electrical fire.

I stopped in at Sandra’s congressman’s office to ask who could contact HUD to rectify this obvious problem. The staffer asked for more info and pictures and promised to get back to me when he got more info.

Another friend of mine in the area is on the housing authority board. I asked how to get HUD to move on this safety issue. Perhaps because 50% of his county’s housing is manufactured, aka trailers (some well-made/kept, some shambles), he didn’t offer any quick possibilities: the tenant should write a letter to the landlord, copy HUD. I didn’t share my worry about “trouble-making” tenants who get kicked out for less than filing a complaint with HUD.

Seems to me that HUD may have grown a little negligent over the years, at least in rural areas. From the condition of trailers I’ve seen in my travels, I’d say we have either a major housing problem on our hands, or an opportunity to turn millions of substandard, unsafe hunks of tin and plastic into decent housing.

My skeptical inner-self is screaming.

Will they hear our cries in DC?

(All photos by author.)

Diane Nilan is founder and president of HEAR US Inc. She travels the country chronicling poverty and homelessness.
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