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Hotline created to help residents of mobile=20 homes

By Crystal Lindell
crystal.lindell@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD - With scores of hotlines for everything from = federal tax=20 help to suicide prevention, Illinoisans can add another to the = list - a=20 mobile-home hotline.

The Illinois Department of Public Health, which regulates = mobile-home=20 parks and mobile-home construction, has set up a 24-hour number,=20 800-494-2645, for residents to call if they encounter = problems.

"We just realized that a lot of people didn't know who to call = if they=20 have questions about installation or construction or their = hook-up's=20 performance," said Melaney Arnold, IDPH spokeswoman.

Arnold said people will be able to call and leave messages = anytime, and=20 IDPH will get back to them.

"Since we do license installation, the people who install the = homes, we=20 figured offering a hotline - just one central place they could = call with=20 any questions, concerns, complaints - would be a benefit," = Arnold.

Terry Nelson, spokeswoman for the Mobile Homeowners Association = of=20 Illinois, helped initiate the hotline and said the number is = mainly for=20 manufacturing concerns. If residents are having problems with = their rent=20 or services they should call her group at (847) 296-5762.

"People don't know where to go," Nelson said. "If there's = wrongdoing=20 and they get caught up in it, the people who are in the wrong = doing aren't=20 going to say 'hey here's someone who can help you."'

There are about 900 mobile home parks in Illinois, compared to = about=20 807 last year. The hotline has received about a half dozen calls = since it=20 started Wednesday.

To advertise the number, the state is considering a plan to = post signs=20 and stickers at trailer parks.

"I'm sure that local communities probably get tired of people = coming to=20 them and saying this wasn't installed right," Arnold said.

Nelson said her group also has sent out information on the = number as=20 way to let people know it's available.

Arnold said no new cost is associated with the telephone = number, which=20 is a number the IDPH already had in use.

"This is just a more convenient format," she said.

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, said the number is much=20 needed.

"The lobby for the mobile home park owners is very strong," = Flider=20 said. "They seem to be opposed to just very basic measures. It's = my=20 understanding, statewide, mobile home park owners have created = very=20 difficult situations for the people who own their mobile home in = the=20 park."

Flider has sponsored legislation that would require mobile-home = parks=20 to have fire hydrants up to code, which has been approved by the = Illinois=20 House and is now in the Senate for consideration.