June 16, 2025

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Oak Leaf Trailer Park Aims To Become A Co-Op

In a city with some of the country’s fastest rising rents, Oak Leaf has been a stable home for people who can’t afford to live anywhere else.

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The trailers at Oak Leaf are showing their age, and a handful have been abandoned. — 1 of 10
The trailers at Oak Leaf are showing their age, and a handful have been abandoned.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

Resident Victor Johanson with Cameron Herrington, an anti-displacement advocate with Living Cully. — 2 of 10
Resident Victor Johanson with Cameron Herrington, an anti-displacement advocate with Living Cully.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

Resident Victor Johanson has helped lead the effort to save the park. "What we're trying to fight for is, there needs to be legitimate low-income housing for people," he says. — 3 of 10
Resident Victor Johanson has helped lead the effort to save the park. "What we're trying to fight for is, there needs to be legitimate low-income housing for people," he says.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

Renae Corbett lives at Oak Leaf with her 80-year-old father and two dogs. "It works for me. The price is right," she says. — 4 of 10
Renae Corbett lives at Oak Leaf with her 80-year-old father and two dogs. "It works for me. The price is right," she says.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

A large cedar tree shades a mobile home at the Oak Leaf park. Residents are trying to form a co-op to buy Oak Leaf and prevent it from being redeveloped. — 5 of 10
A large cedar tree shades a mobile home at the Oak Leaf park. Residents are trying to form a co-op to buy Oak Leaf and prevent it from being redeveloped.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

Oak Leaf was willing to overlook Rhonda Polk's bad credit and eviction record. "I have a few people here who I would consider closer than family," she says. "My image of a trailer park has really changed." — 6 of 10
Oak Leaf was willing to overlook Rhonda Polk's bad credit and eviction record. "I have a few people here who I would consider closer than family," she says. "My image of a trailer park has really changed."
Amelia Templeton / OPB

In Oregon, tenants in a park that is being bought must be given an opportunity to purchase the land instead. — 7 of 10
In Oregon, tenants in a park that is being bought must be given an opportunity to purchase the land instead.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

About a dozen other manufactured home parks in Oregon have formed co-ops and bought their land. — 8 of 10
About a dozen other manufactured home parks in Oregon have formed co-ops and bought their land.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

Roughly 60 people live at Oak Leaf, in the Cully Neighborhood in Northeast Portland. — 9 of 10
Roughly 60 people live at Oak Leaf, in the Cully Neighborhood in Northeast Portland.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

Oak Leaf has been a stable home for people who can’t afford to live anywhere else. — 10 of 10
Oak Leaf has been a stable home for people who can’t afford to live anywhere else.
Amelia Templeton / OPB

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