Diana Patton

My name is Diana Patton. I’ve lived in Eaglecrest Mobile Home Park in Hamburg, NY, since 2017. After losing my home to foreclosure due to my disability, I decided to move here because the rents in apartments had gone up considerably and I have a support network of family and friends here.

Our community is owned by RHP Properties. It used to be the #1 community in Hamburg, but now it’s gone completely downhill. We have a rat infestation. I’m a veteran with PTSD and the rats keep me up at night, which exacerbates my physical disabilities as well. I’ve even heard a neighbor say their child got bit while sleeping.No maintenance gets done. There are bridges with holes big enough for kids to fall through. Emergency vehicles can’t get through the emergency exit because it hasn’t been paved. One bridge has flooded 3 times in the last 10 years.

Despite all of these issues, you can be sure RHP makes sure to give us yearly rent increases. My rent has increased 23% since 2019. Some residents are getting increases over 6%, which is above the legal limit. RHP claims this is for capital upgrades and taxes, yet we are the ones who have to pay to get our driveways redone. Due to the rat issues, I pay $1200 a year for extermination and they wrote me up for defamation claiming I tampered with bait traps.

We recently had our first tenant association meeting and I was elected president. We’ve started building relationships with elected officials to hold RHP accountable. We’re fighting for necessary repairs and maintenance, fair rent and reimbursement for damages, pain, and suffering, and compliance with health and safety standards.

As a veteran, I am not concerned for myself as much as I am for the residents who live here. I don’t care what happens to me. These people are scared and worried they will be kicked out and have to abandon everything. They are worried about intimidation and harassment. I’ve put my other advocacy efforts on hold to ensure everyone here in my community is protected.