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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?

I don't understand. Why do you have to leave a 55+ community because of a granddaughter? Usually in 55+ communities only one person in a household is to be older than 55. But then this site is for caregivers and most of us are caring for elders, so we may not know how to guide you in the specifics of your situation.
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waytomisery May 7, 2024
All the 55 + communities by me only allow people 19 and older to live with the person who is at least 55. The school buses don’t go to these communities either .
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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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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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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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MeDolly May 7, 2024
Yes, they would evict the family, happens everyday here in Florida.
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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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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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There can be exceptions to this rule and the main thing would be to talk to the owner of the mobile home park about the situation. I know that generally these are child-free communities, but if this is a legal situation where the child would either be with you or in foster care they can make an exception. Most 55+ communities need to have so many adult-only homes (more than half, I believe). If the owner of the community is okay with you having a grandchild, then I would get it in writing and make sure to legally have this agreed upon.

Is this an HOA situation? If not you stand a better chance of allowing the grandchild to be able to stay.
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Reply to DoggieMom86
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If the park's rules are that prohibitive, the State *should* help you find something since . It's not fair you have to pack up and move, but kudos for stepping up to save the life of a child!

Section 8 lists seem to be closed in your area; so maybe you could
1. get a housing voucher through HUD Public Housing (561-924-5565)?
2. sell and move to an all-age park[www.mhvillage.com/parks/fl/boynton-beach]?
3. ask whoever at DCF was assigned to your granddaughter's case to see if they can point you to something useful?

Wishing you and GDaughter success and a peaceful home.
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Reply to ravensdottir
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I can understand 55+ communities restricting children as a whole, but there should be case-by-case basis where it is allowed. I have researched other cases and been shocked that a 55+ community wanted to "evict" a 15-year-old minor because he had to live with his grandparents after the death of both of his parents. This is not right when the child would be placed in foster care. I think it is much better for the child to be with the grandparent.
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Reply to DoggieMom86
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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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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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Most likely not but you can likely drag it out for a year or so
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Just read through the responses. MeDolly’s responses were very informative and helpful.

What a shame that there doesn’t seem to be any allowances for a child who has special circumstances, due to her situation with her parents.

I am so sorry that you are caught between a rock and a hard place. I hope things will somehow work out for you and your family.
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Reply to NeedHelpWithMom
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The whole purpose of 55 and upcommunities is there is to be no children. Thats why people move into them. We had a trailer park bought out here. The new owner wanted it 55 and up. Those with children we grandfathered in but new resident must me 55 and up and no children.

I do agree, OP has special circumstances. I guess u don't have other children who could take her in? Maybe the father's family? You may get paid by the County to care for her.
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Why is it always expected that seniors need care as opposed to giving care. Especially with 7 million grandparents raising their grandchildren. The question is:
Can I grandparent raising a minor grandchild, who has custody of said child bring that child to live with them in senior housing?????
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Reply to ANNYJ2459
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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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Understand that there is a hierarchy of laws governing housing, housing discrimination even in mobile home parks.

The Federal Fair Housing Act supercedes the Mobile Home Park rules.

FAIR HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND
MOBILE HOME PARKS
Legal Aid Society of
Palm Beach County
Fair Housing Project
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to Fair Housing Act 3

Discrimination Against Families
with Children 7

Discrimination Against Individuals
with Disabilities 10
____________________________________
Even though a MH Park is 55+, State laws could protect you. See the Mobile Home Statutes in your State. The State Statutes supercede the Park's Rules.

See a fair housing attorney in your area. One that specializes in mobile home residents, not mobile home park owners!

Some mobile home residents/owners can live in a Senior Only Park because the laws provide a percentage has to be 55+, maybe 80/20 %. The 20% can be families if your city's ordinances apply. City Ordinances would supercede Park Rules.

And lastly, Mobile Home Rules must apply to all resident homeowners equally.
Are there any children living in your MH Park?

And finally, what action was taken against you, such as an eviction?
You can and should fight that.

Do not take the word of Park Management or your neighbors.
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waytomisery Sep 16, 2024
By me the 80/20 % law means that 20% of homeowners can be under 55, but any children living with them still have to be over 18.

These are adult only communities , which is why people choose to live there.

Similar to why people choose adult only cruises , and resorts. There are even adult only restaurants popping up in cities.
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Honestly, maybe you should consider the foster care system for her. Her best chances in life will be if she can be surrounded by a good, stable family who has kids of their own and can manuever the school system and develop a network of friends and contacts that will help influence and support her and provide the best options for her future jobs. Our good friends fostered junior-high and high-school kids over the years. A step-relative (single man, no kids) fostered 2 high-school boys and went on to adopt them and they are now doing awesome. It was the best thing to ever happen to those kids. It doesn't mean you aren't still her Grandma. But your love won't be enough at this stage in her life.

With such limited income and mobility issues (do you have a car? do you drive?) and now with pressure to move to a more expense location... you run the risk of plunging both you and your Granddaughter into poverty and stress.

I'm 65 and my grandson is 14 (and living with his parents). He's doing well in school because his home life is stable (working Father who can support the family, makes time for his kids). He plays JH football and thus has a good network of friends (which is extremely important to belong to a social group during formative youth years). He goes to the afterschool bible study group. He goes to (and hosts) sleepovers. Your granddaughter won't have any of this if she lives with you.

I'm so sorry for this dilemma, but there is an alternative.

I would talk to her social worker about the possibility of foster care.
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sp196902 Sep 16, 2024
What are the odds of the 12 year old going into a bad foster care home? Sexual abuse, physical abuse and other forms of neglect can and do happen quite often to children in foster care.

"one third to one half of children that have been in foster care report having suffered abuse in their foster homes.."

The OP is between a rock and a hard place because of the two drug addicts that became parents. She has limited income and means to care for her granddaughter and is restricted by a 55+ community. I will post more about that above.
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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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sp196902 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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OP what state do you live in? Many states have rules and laws where a child you have to take care of can live with you in your 55+ community. Let us know and we can check the laws in your state.
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May question.
The OP never returned to engage with us.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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If a 55+ community has decided it will totally exclude children, that is totally up to them and has been since 1988. Otherwise, said communities would be flooded with whatever minors an individual resident considered the exemption. I
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waytomisery Sep 16, 2024
OP lives in Florida , which we all know , caters to retirees with a lot of these communities . My FIL was in one when he would snowbird for winters and moved to another one for a bigger home, when he moved there year round . No way would these people who relocated to retire to an adult only community be happy about kids living in their community . These communities usually have strict rules about everything . Never heard of kids living in them . Some of these people thrive by tattling on any of their neighbors who break any rule .
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May question, OP never responded.
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Note that the original posting was from back in May 2024.

Oops, sorry JoAnn, I just noticed your answer above mine :)
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JoAnn29 Oct 12, 2024
Someone replied on Oct 10 so brought the post back up.
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Please, check dates before responding. These old posts end up coming back to the top. This OP asked the question and never returned. Also note, you have the option of Newest first or Oldest first. Set for newest than you will see updates to the post.
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