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Jupiter resident wants to leave, says she can't

Posted at 11:10 PM, May 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-18 06:02:43-04

Ronna Helm, 66, is proud of what she called her little cabin, complete with cedar wall.

"I just love it. It’s all I need to finish out my life," she said.

Helm was actually referring to a mobile home at Suni Sands in Jupiter. Residents were supposed to move out by the end of April to make room for a new hotel style development.  But the property manager said there are just shy of 30 people still there, including Helm.

Her situation is a bit different. Helm said she is trying to leave, but can't.  She already has a new location but worries she will have to leave her trailer behind.

"It’s my life savings. It’s everything in one basket," said Helm.

She purchased the trailer from someone who received the original eviction notice. Helm said she's unable to move it without an eviction notice in her name, something she doesn't have.

"We were never told of anything," she said when WPTV asked if she knew this was going to be an issue when she bought the trailer.

"Confusion. Jeopardy.  Just total devastation," said Helm, describing her emotions. "I’m not legally versed in how things go, but I assumed and was told that we would be able to move the trailers."

Steven Burns, Suni Sands' property manager, was aware of the situation. 

"...So unbenowst to us, folks came in and purchased from the original evictees, so the original recipients of the eviction notices," he explained.

Burns said the situations are now going through what he said were the proper legal channels.

"I am doing everything possible that I can with the town officials, with the owner of the property, with the delivery destination of the units to make this possible for them," he said.

Helm said she doesn't know what she would do if she had to move without her home.

"It would be a crushing blow. I can’t even explain what it would do to me," said Helm. "I don’t know where I would go. I would probably be in a homeless situation."