ANAHEIM, Calif. — Not all of life’s choices are this easy. Cheryl Moi and her husband, Alan Moi, faced a more difficult choice when they retired.

They were looking for an affordable and safe way to spend their golden years. They thought they made the right choice when they bought a mobile home.    

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“It was very nice until February 28th. Once we got that letter, it has just changed so much,” said Cheryl Moi.

The couple and their neighbors at Rancho La Paz Mobile Home Park learned that they were going to experience a major rent hike in February. They were worried since they both live off of two social security income checks and a pension check that won’t last forever. 

Their park was sold earlier this year and the new owner mailed notices to the residents letting them know that they could see increased rates of more than 30 percent. After city leaders and residents met with the owner, the average rent hike went down to about $132 a month.

However, the rent will gradually continue to increase year after year. 

Seeing that they had little to no choice, Moi and her neighbors rallied and attended city council meetings. Moi says she never attended meetings before this.

The residents asked their city leaders to pass a rent control ordinance to freeze or limit increases on mobile home park rents, help them negotiate with the park owner and to help create some sort of rental subsidy program that assist low-income senior residents inside the park. 

“We’ve fought, tried to talk to them, tried to convince them, our needs and they are supposed to be working for us,” said Moi.

The mobile home park straddles Fullerton and Anaheim city boundaries. In August, Fullerton’s city council approved a program to use federal funds to help low-income seniors in the park who spend at least 30 percent of their income on rent. 

Moi’s neighbor, Paul Reed, who lives on the Fullerton side, told her that he was all in.

“Cheryl brought me the paperwork. I filled it out and provided all the support documents that were required and brought it over. I thought it might be a Godsend with what we’re facing so I jumped on it,” said Paul Reed, a retired Disney employee. 

Reed sent in all of his paperwork and is waiting to find out if he got approved. In the meantime, he signed a 6-year lease and is hoping for the best. 

Cheryl lives on the Anaheim side where residents hoped their city council would follow in Fullerton’s footsteps. Anaheim did not.

Instead, they voted for a pilot program that helps seniors when they face eviction or homelessness because of a sudden illness, job loss or other hardships. This pilot program program isn’t expected to begin until January. 

Meanwhile, the rent increases took effect on November 1.

“It was terribly disappointing. People are, I don’t want to say heartbroken. They’re worse than that,” said Moi.

Any increase is a lot for Moi and her husband, but even so, the Moi’s signed a 10-year lease, choosing to hope for the future, despite their limited income.