Mobile-home residents tell Lake County supervisors rent spikes threaten seniors

Maya Lynn, speaking for residents of Sterling Shores Mobile Home Parks, told the Lake County Board of Supervisors during public comment that many tenants — most on fixed incomes and many seniors — have endured repeated rent increases and are struggling to stay housed.

"When rent spikes by hundreds of dollars, which ours has done about $200 in the last couple years, it doesn't just mean cutting back," Maya Lynn said. "It means choosing between medication, groceries, keeping a roof over their head." She said some residents now depend on help from adult children and other family members to cover housing costs.

Lynn said parks have raised rent by roughly 4 to 6 percent in recent years and that residents have received another notice of increase, including charges for postage and portal fees. She asked the board — and specifically the ad hoc committee members she named, Bruno and EJ — to "please use the lawyers" and align county action so any protections could be made retroactive.

The appeals were part of the meeting's public-comment period; no formal motion or vote on tenant protections was made during the session. The speakers asked the board to prioritize measures that would relieve seniors on fixed incomes and to consider retroactive remedies for recent rent increases.

The board closed public comment without announcing a response or next steps on housing policy at the meeting.