'We're going to lose everything:' Siler City residents facing eviction call on county leaders for help

A group of Siler City residents facing eviction have turned to county and city leaders for help finding affordable housing.

The 27 families living at Johnson’s Mobile Home Park were told in November that they would have to find somewhere else to live by May 7.

"I've worked very hard to buy this house for my children," one resident said. “How do you tell your children that we’re going to lose everything we have?"

Mountaire Farms acquired the mobile home park late last year to build a poultry processing plant.

The Hispanic Liaison decided to partner with and advocate for residents, asking Mountaire for $46,000 per family.

“The residents have come down significantly from that in order to compromise with the company and the bare minimum that is needed right now that was asked is $8,300,” said Ilana Dubester with The Hispanic Liaison.

Residents and Mountaire Farms have been at an impasse and the families have asked city and county leaders to step in.

While residents realize the land was private property sold by previous owners, they feel city and county leaders bear the burden of problems that extend beyond the sale. They argue there is not enough affordable housing in the area, especially for families whose income is between $15,000 and $20,000 per year and who were previously paying only $210 per month in lot rent.

“I think Mountaire did not realize the extent of the housing crisis in Siler City when they decided to come here,” Dubester said.

Montaire said all residents have been given five months’ rent abatement to assist with relocation expenses and an offer was made to provide $5,000 per unit in relocation assistance to all residents who relocate by an agreed upon date.

Monday night, the company said it would extend the eviction deadline to July 31 if all residents agreed to relocate by that date.