Mobile Home Parks, Do these exist outside the US? Options

[dancing queen]

In America we have trailer parks, made up of mobile homes. people often own their trailer and rent the lot, although sometimes people just rent the trailer. They are called mobile homes but for the most part they never get moved anywhere.
Trailer Park Trash is a pretty derogatory term used to describe a specific breed of White Trash.
(white trash isn't a tag used only for white people by the way).

My coworkers and I were just discussing these terms and their definitions (it actually started because we were discussing Tonya Harding, who - it was said qualifies as both white trash and trailer park trash) and I've never seen a trailer park in another country. are these exclusive to the US? or do other countries have communities made entirely of Mobile Homes that never go anywhere that people live in permanently?

For the record, I have an Aunt/Uncle and cousins who have lived in a trailer park my whole life. They are not trailer park trash. It's actually a gorgeous park w a nice pool and woods and trails and such.

[Live4Life]

Yes, there are some in Europe but they are usually just considered temorary homes. I saw on tv a while back there were some in northern Europe. I have always hated the term white trash...so lame. While i have never lived in one my dad did and this place was beautiful.
It was one of those double wide ones and it was so nice.
Nevermind that term, you are far from white trash.
Obviously some idiot started calling people this and it just stuck i guess.
Most likely, this person was trash.

[jayda]

Yeah, we call them caravan parks. They don't have the same negative connotation here as what they seem to in the US. They are usually by the beach or in a tourist area although some fit outside this. There is one about 1/2 hour from the city (and 35 mins from me) on the main Sydney to Melbourne highway. Not exactly a tourist area but handy (and I guess cheaper than inner city motels/temp apartments) for those traveling and obviously for those with their own caravan.

When I was a kid my family had one that slept 8. There was 6 kids so the only way that we were going to get to travel around Australia. I have very fond memories of going from one side of Australia to the other, staying in tiny country towns and going to visit relatives in school holidays with my dad towing the caravan. It was a really long one and my dad drove like a snail so we saw EVERYTHING on those trips! Nothing escaped our attention. It's actually become quite a trend lately to buy a caravan/camper and travel like this with your family. Also, lots of retired couples travel the country that way and many also live permanently in parks in tourist areas. Great way to get a reasonable priced home near the beach!

When my parents split up my dad actually lived in our one for a few months until they sorted out finances etc. Then when my mum was building our new house we again lived in it for about 6 months with an annex attached. Quite an experience! But the park was very nice. We were about 10 minutes from the beach and as we were there in off season we were allowed to keep our pets with us. The worst part was getting rid of my childhood books and toys as obviously no room! We had to use communal toilets and showers but that was pretty normal then - not too many of the vans had their own facilities. Especially ones designed to pull around rather than 'park'.

My hubby was just saying this weekend that when he travels for work he much prefers to stay in an on site cabin in a caravan park rather than a motel. The cabins are always clean and comfy and nice surroundings. Motels you are lucky to get a balcony and a concrete driveway/parking lot to look over from your window.

Here, if you are financially challenged you are more likely to live in government housing and pay a fixed % of your earnings (generally welfare if you are in this situation). I think that has more negative connotations than any other living arrangement in this country.

[dancing queen]

Jayda, I think what you're describing is a campground for RV's. (recreational vehicles). I'm talking about a building that's essentially a very nice shed on wheels (some of them are quite large, though). but they NEVER move. you don't take a trailer around the country. you actually need a big rig to move them, not just a big pickup truck. people live in them as permanent homes.
I'd have to see a pic to know for sure. Friends of mine have a huge RV, that they take camping a lot. they could live in it laways, but they tow it with heir pickup truck to places and it normally lives in their driveway.

I don't hate the term white trash anymore than I dislike redneck or hick. I know people who fit these description pretty perfectly. and I think they all know it.

[jayda]

Jayda, I think what you're describing is a campground for RV's. (recreational vehicles). I'm talking about a building that's essentially a very nice shed on wheels (some of them are quite large, though). but they NEVER move. you don't take a trailer around the country. you actually need a big rig to move them, not just a big pickup truck. people live in them as permanent homes.
I'd have to see a pic to know for sure. Friends of mine have a huge RV, that they take camping a lot. they could live in it laways, but they tow it with heir pickup truck to places and it normally lives in their driveway.

I don't hate the term white trash anymore than I dislike redneck or hick. I know people who fit these description pretty perfectly. and I think they all know it.

Yeah, they have those as well. Usually it's a mix of caravans and cabin type of things which are mobile homes like you describe...you wouldn't want to move them too often! My hubby uses small ones of them on large job sites for the site office. He moves it with a truck. Portable buildings pretty much. They are minus the wheels.

Kinda like this place:

http://www.logcab.com.au/

Lots of people live in them. They make their little area around it all nice with temp fencing and garden beds.

My friend in Canada lives in one on her block of land. Here you aren't allowed to...only temp unless you get a special permit like for a 'granny flat' so that an elderly parent could live in it in your back yard.

Our word for redneck is probably 'bogan'! Not exactly the same but closest thing I think!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogan

[makemedream]

I know where i live they have regulations on the percentage of sites in these caravan parks that can have permanent residents living in them, I know this because we were looking at a site down the coast from us to put a small mobile home on for us and our family to use on holidays. I was told they were out of permanent sites as the council dosent want to encourage this type of housing in tourist areas where most of these parks are.

[Sonic Tonic]

Got some in Canada





This post has been edited by Sonic Tonic: Nov 17 2012, 3:32 pm

[SinfulEyes]

I do imagine Live4Live living in a trashy trailer paid by the government.

[Live4Life]

I do imagine Live4Live living in a trashy trailer paid by the government.

You don't even know live4live, how can you say anything about the person?

[SinfulEyes]

You don't even know live4live, how can you say anything about the person?

Meant Live4Life.

[Badman]

The following are what she means. I grew up in one and am curious about this too.





The one I grew up in was a lot like #s 1 and 3 but it wasn't as nice because we didn't have trash cans.

[Live4Life]

The following are what she means. I grew up in one and am curious about this too.





The one I grew up in was a lot like #s 1 and 3 but it wasn't as nice because we didn't have trash cans.

Some of them are real nice and as long as you had a roof over your head is all that matters! Not having trash cans does suck though. Didn't they have dumpsters?

[Badman]

Not having trash cans does suck though. Didn't they have dumpsters?

The city provides the ones that they have in the pictures. Mine didn't. We had to buy our own and that meant that most didn't buy them at all and just piled trash bags near the curb on trash day. My dad fashioned a trash bin out of an old petroleum barrel. Very ghetto existence we used to have. I live in an apartment now.

[jayda]

I would say pretty much they are the same thing here but like I said, they don't have quite the same negativity about them. In your middle picture they are large caravans (to us) because I can see the towing set up in the front (the A frame?).

I think they just look neater and it's quite an acceptable place to live here in Australia - often as a retiree or even if you are working on a long term contract away from home. Most people would holiday in one though.

If you are that poor here, you would more than likely be the recipient of Government housing. In the old days it would be an entire 'estate' of govt housing and everyone would know that about where lived (makemedream - Reservoir had two or three areas like this, yeah?) and chances are it would be a bit scummy. Now they buy one or two houses in a street and they just blend in with the rest of the community. I know the govt owns quite a few homes like this in the town near me because friends live next door to one and it has the stereo-typical 'scummy' occupants. They told my friends they are housing commission tenants.

Onwards and upwards Badman! You do not let something like this define who you are today!

[Badman]

Onwards and upwards Badman! You do not let something like this define who you are today!

I'd say it makes me super thankful for every thing I have. Many of my friends have college paid for and have never been homeless as a family. Makes me stronger because I know what to do if I didn't have anything.