On Sunday, residents living in an illegal RV park in the backyard of a single-family home in Sylmar were evicted. The property, located in the 14000 block of Hubbard Street, houses over 20 parked recreational vehicles.
Multiple local agencies determined the RVs to be hazardous and in need of red tagging. The power to the property was also shut off, with a judge ordering the encampment’s residents to vacate by Tuesday.
The homeowner, Cruz Godoy, faced charges for unlawfully erecting an unpermitted structure and failing to uphold safe and sanitary conditions. She pleaded not guilty to the two misdemeanors on Wednesday and is due back in court in early August.
Residents of the illegal RV park were allegedly paying Godoy $500 to $800 per month for a room in the recreational vehicles. Godoy claimed that some tenants hadn’t paid rent in months.
Some residents commended Godoy for providing housing amidst high rent rates in Los Angeles and California. However, neighbors of the illegal encampment expressed relief at its shutdown, criticizing Godoy for exploiting vulnerable individuals.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez reported that her office had been preparing for the eviction by finding housing opportunities for the displaced residents. An emergency evacuation center was set up for them on Tuesday.
As residents packed their belongings into vehicles on Sunday morning, it remains uncertain whether Godoy will leave the property.