I am 66 years old and live in a 55 + community mobile home park. I recently got custody of my 12 year old granddaughter. Can this be fought?

You’ll almost certainly have to move considering you’re in Florida. It’s very common for people in your situation to be evicted there.

People pay a premium to live in child free communities for a reason. It’s not fair to everyone else in the park to make exceptions to the rules.

I believe that this 55+ rule applies to the owner of the mobile home.

There must be someone on your HOA board who can give you the 'rules'. I actually think it may be against the law to discriminate against someone b/c of age.

Don't assume the worst!

I had a friend who has custody of 3 grandkids. At one point she was facing losing her home and she was looking into 55+ mobile home parks. There were a lot of situations where grandma had custody of a couple of grands. Not one of the parks refused to rent to her with the kids in tow.

Good Luck (on all accounts!)

The reason in my community - which is a whole city in itself - is that the over-55 crowd moved here in order to enjoy facilities and amenities that cater to them. Golf courses, pools, computer, crafts, hobby facilities including radio control modeling of boats, planes, cars, and trains. It's one big camp for adults. If kids were allowed to live here, the adult-aimed facilities would be overrun, and those who lived here have already raised their families and don't want that.

BUT - we have playgrounds for the kids plus swimming classes for them; they fish in our lakes, attend special programs such as crafts and day camp at holiday times, and they are welcome at entertainment as long as it's not a adult thing where they'd be in the way, such as underfoot while their elders are learning to tango. In summer, kids have special hours at all pools. There's a grandparents' club so they can arrange play dates with other grandparents. They can stay for lengthy times while their parents are on a longish trip. We are friendly and welcoming, but this cannot be their legal residence. They cannot run and play freely in others' yards, and they cannot drive golf carts.

Rules might be bent for someone in OP's case, but probably only temporarily as an emergency.

I think that this is perhaps something for discussion with those who manage your park.
We could have no idea what you might do in this circumstance.
I think that you might have better luck with adding the word "temporary" to this custody, as it may be just that if the couple gets clean.

I would say you have temporary custody due to family illness. See how that works. If there are not parties and such then this may just be sort of ignored and under the carpet, but again this is up to you to find out for your own community; they are all different.

I sure do wish you the very best of luck.

There’s been an exception to fair housing rules since 1988 for 55 and over communities. You can ask, but I wouldn’t be surprised if told “no” as probably several places have told others who want to move in grandchildren. It obviates the purpose of the 55 and up exemption.

You need to thoroughly check the laws/covenants of your community.
A friend of mine lives in a mobile home park that is 55+ and they also have the same restriction they do not even allow grandkids to trick or treat in the community.!
Anything can be fought the question is are you willing to spend the money on a case you will most likely lose. the parks are generally owned by companies with deep pockets and they do not want 1 case setting precedence and "ticking off" the whole community.

Sometimes these 55 and over communities can be tricky. If you have legal custody of the child that will probably make the difference about whether she can stay or not. So will the fact that it's an individual mobile home and not a senior apartment complex. Do you have legal custody of her or is it an informal arrangement? It has to be court legal.

Also, if you have legal custody of the child, you are collecting for her from either your Social Security or the state is paying because she is a foster child.

Talk to the mobile home association where you live and explain your situation. They may be reasonable to you considering your situation.
Would they force a married couple out if the husband is over 55 and the wife is a younger woman and she gets pregnant and has a child while they live there?

You just have to find out what their rules and polices will be on this.

I can understand 55+ communities restricting children as a whole, but there should be case-by-case basis where it is allowed. I have researched other cases and been shocked that a 55+ community wanted to "evict" a 15-year-old minor because he had to live with his grandparents after the death of both of his parents. This is not right when the child would be placed in foster care. I think it is much better for the child to be with the grandparent.

Most likely not but you can likely drag it out for a year or so

Just read through the responses. MeDolly’s responses were very informative and helpful.

What a shame that there doesn’t seem to be any allowances for a child who has special circumstances, due to her situation with her parents.

I am so sorry that you are caught between a rock and a hard place. I hope things will somehow work out for you and your family.