Trailer Park America: Reimagining Working-Class Communities

by Leontina Hormel

In rural northern Idaho in the winter of 2013-2014, Syringa Mobile Home Park’s water system was contaminated by sewage, resulting in residents’ water being shut off for 93 days. By summer 2018 Syringa had closed, forcing residents to relocate or face homelessness. Trailer Park America chronicles how residents dealt with regulatory agencies, frequent boil order notices, threats of closure, and class-based social stigma over this period. Despite all this, what was seen as a dysfunctional, ‘disorderly’ community by outsiders was instead a refuge where veterans, women heads of households, and people with disabilities or substance use disorders were supported and understood. The embattled Syringa community also organized to defend the rights and dignity of residents and served as a site for negotiating with local government, culminating in a class-action lawsuit that reached the federal level. The experiences Syringa residents faced in this conservative, predominately white region of the United States are emblematic of the growing national and global crisis in affordable housing and home ownership, with declining work conditions and incomes for the working-class.

284 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2023

Reviews

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look into America's trailer park communities, with the main example being one trailer park that has been neglected by the owners and eventually closed down. The book describes the history of trailer parks and highlights the communities who live there. Some of them have no other option, some would not choose to live anywhere else. I appreciate the personal stories, it makes you relate more to how and why these people live in these conditions and even don't leave when water is cut off.

The main focus is the Syringa Park case. If you are more interested in the general trailer park "culture", I suggest looking for another source, as this is a specific case study.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC to read & review. These are my honest opinions.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful example of community-engaged scholarship.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 star
The premise is interesting. I even agree with her philosophy on housing. However, she quickly devolves into political tangents . I get enough of that from the news I do not want it in my books as welI. I did not finish.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely valuable new book on housing insecurity as a global, national, and state trend, illustrated through one case study. My full review will be on the website cpusa.org

[Jamie Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book for anyone interested in poverty, american issues, sociology, or even community. It should probably be required reading for people interested in housing issues.
I will admit to feeling unsettled while reading it but that should be the point. They did shut down a trailer park here in our county recently and displaced the entire community. And it feels like no one was bothered, but I definitely was.