Movable People

Abigail

Troubles are mounting for Abigail Cortiz, a resident of Baker Creek Mobile Park. After her husband left her recently, she learned that she and her son Eduardo were being evicted for months of unpaid rent. They must leave their mobile home by Oct. 1. “I’m sad,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. You work hard for something so you can stay at a place and be comfortable, but then you receive a note that says you have to move.” All residents of the park will have to move by June 1, 2008. It is being redeveloped.

TV Dinner

Chuck Weidel watches television from his dinner table. After receiving a letter informing them that rent would double before a June eviction date, Weidel and his roommate Julie Champagne stopped paying rent completely. Facing immediate eviction from a trailer they would leave behind, the two quit tending to their home. “I just gave up on everything. I don’t even care anymore, its not even our house,” said Champagne.

Moving

James Zamudio, of Rolling Wheels Construction, discusses with a coworker the best method to collapse Fernando Martinez’s expando trailer as they prepare to move it to a new mobile home park. After living in the Baker Creek Mobil Park for only 11 months, Martinez received an eviction notice. “I was the last guy to come, so people say I got it the worst,” said Martinez.

Downscaling

Chuck Weidel displays a picture of the fifth-wheel trailer that he and his roommate plan to move into once they can find a park that will accept them. Weidel is unable to relocate his current mobile home because it's too old to meet the standards of most mobile home parks. The two had to sell most of their possessions in a yard sale in order to buy the new trailer.

Nuzzle

Julie Champagne nuzzles her Pomeranian, Yoshi, while watching TV in her combination living room, bedroom. Champagne, who has a social anxiety disorder, rarely leaves home except to walk the dog. “I couldn’t ask for a better companion. Because I’m always home, he keeps me company,” said Champagne.

Meg

Meg Espinoza poses in front of Baker Creek next to the Baker Creek Mobil Park. Espinoza, who has lived in the park for 14 years, speculates that the low levels of the creek are connected to the development taking place in the area. Espinoza said of the quickly diminishing community, “Its going to be a ghost town soon.”