Squamish trailer park evictions leave residents with nowhere to go

Residents of a Squamish trailer park have been told they have ayear to move out or abandon their homes, regardless of any leases they may have signed with the previous operator.

Wendy Linton says many residents of Riverside Trailer Park were in tears following a meeting Wednesday night at the Squamish First Nation's Totem Hall.

Residents of 19 units at the trailer park were handed eviction notices by the band's lawyersand given a year to either move their mobile homes out or abandon them on the land.

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"We were told that the trailer park which we had previously signed leases with a family that said they owned the land actually had been taken over by [the]Squamish Nation," said Linton.

Historical land dispute

The eviction comes after the First Nation took over control of one section of the trailer park from Chief Bill Williams in 2012.

At the timethe band took over the land, it said the Williams family had expanded the trailer park illegally onto land itdid not own. The band declared any leases on the affected land invalid.

The Williams family had owned a neighbouring parcel of land for over 100 years, and Williams continues to operate the remainder of the park on land he still owns.

Since then, the residents of the 19 trailer pads have been paying $400 a month in rent on a month-to-month basis, according to a statement released by the band.

After taking over the land, the band reassessed the viability of the section of the trailer park it now owns and determined "the monthly rental fees are insufficient to pay for Squamish Nation's ongoing expenses for maintenance, office administration, property management and utilities."

At the meeting on Wednesday night, the residents were given eviction notices and offered one free year's rent before they must leave.

"The Squamish Nation is dedicated to treating all tenants fairly during the one year, rent-freenotice and relocation period," said Squamish Nation Councillor Chris Lewis in the statement.

In addition, the band is offering $9,600 to any residents that leave in three months, and $4,800 to those who leave within six months. Those who stay the full year will get no extra cash.

Nowhere to go

Lintonsays they have been told, because the land is owned by the First Nation, it's not subject to tenancy laws.

For Linton, who estimates her home would be worth $130,000 if she was not being evicted, the cash is cold comfort.

"Most of our trailers can't be moved. They're so old and have porches attached and have been modified significantly, and, of course, there is a lack of space available," she said.

She says with no way of selling her primary asset, the cash offered by the band won't be enough to even make a downpayment on a new home in the pricey Squamish region.

"I can't sell my trailer, so I can't get a deposit to get another place to live," she said.

She says one of the owners who bought into the park five years ago was unable to sell his unit without a lease.

"He had an offer of $115,000 on his trailer, and because he couldn't get a lease agreement from Squamish Nation, he couldn't sell."

Linton says she's still reeling from the news, and it is too soon to say what she and others will do.

"Quite frankly, I do not have a clue what I will do. I don't know right now. I think most people are still in shock."