David Bates
My name is David Bates. I was born and raised in Lake Club, Michigan, a small village in Muskegon County. My fiancée was born and raised in Adrian, Michigan, a few hours from me. Miraculously, our paths crossed in Missouri. She’s the love of my life. We both miss Michigan and our families terribly. We now live in Lakeview Terrace MHC, owned by Y.E.S. Communities, in North Kansas City, Missouri, where we’ve lived for the past three years.
This is a beautiful community. My family and I were happy in our new home, but when COVID-19 hit, everything went downhill. My boss passed away due to COVID. Not only did my heart break for him and his family, but I lost my job. I’ve always been a hard worker; I’ve panned for gold on the side of a California mountain and painted houses for money. I believe in supporting my family no matter what. I picked up odd jobs through temp agencies, but when the city shut down because of the pandemic, so did the jobs. I could no longer rely on temporary employment, as I had a beautiful new family to support.
We got a little relief with the government stimulus assistance, which I am still thankful for, but Y.E.S. Communities raised the rent twice during the pandemic. Who does that??? They started adding ridiculous fees, like $10 extra a month if you own a washer and dryer, and water bills that made no sense. My lot rent is $430 and my trailer rent is $400. With all the added fees and my consumer obligations, I’m paying upwards of $1,200 per month.
My little ones are getting sick from the black mold running through the house. The plumbing is awful and the roof leaks when it rains. Saying the maintenance crew is incompetent is a compliment compared to what’s really going on.
We’re now facing an eviction, along with about thirty more families who were served during the pandemic. In July 2021 my family and I were served, despite the national CDC eviction moratorium that was still in effect until August. Although things looked grim as far as my finances, I had a family member who contacted Y.E.S. Communities and offered to pay our rent and late fees through September, which would’ve brought us up to a $0 balance. Y.E.S. Communities wouldn’t accept the payment.
We are at our wits’ end, packing with no place to go. We know if we stay and try to fight the eviction, it will end up on our record, making it even more difficult to secure housing in the future. My fiancée and I have always worked hard to keep a roof over our heads, and we’ve never been put in a situation like this. It’s causing undue stress and life-threatening mental anguish.
No family should ever be treated this way. I’m not standing for it – I’m going to fight for fairness and equality for manufactured home owners here in the Midwest.