Residents of a small mobile home park in Vernon, British Columbia, are now living without electricity, water, and basic services after authorities shut off power over serious safety concerns, triggering a growing crisis that could take weeks to resolve.
The outage at Crown Villa mobile home park began on April 10, 2026, after Technical Safety BC ordered a full disconnection of electricity due to what it described as severe and ongoing electrical hazards. The shutdown affects 11 homes, leaving families scrambling to adapt to life without power, heat, or running water.
For many residents, the situation escalated quickly from uncertainty to survival mode. Without electricity, the site’s well pump has stopped working, cutting off water supply entirely. People are now relying on bottled water, battery-powered lights, and makeshift arrangements to get through each day and night.
“Right now we’re literally camping,” one resident said, describing the conditions as overwhelming and exhausting as families try to stay warm and maintain basic hygiene.
Years of warnings lead to sudden shutdown
The power cut did not come without warning. According to Technical Safety BC, critical electrical hazards were first identified at the property as early as April 2021. Over the next several years, the regulator issued multiple legal orders requiring the park’s owner to fix the system.
A final deadline was set in December 2025, giving the owner until April 10, 2026, to complete repairs. When that deadline passed without action, authorities moved forward with shutting off electricity to prevent what they said was an immediate risk of fire or electrocution.
Officials emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly, noting that they waited until warmer weather to reduce the risk to residents. Still, the sudden loss of power has created major disruption for everyone living on the property.
Among the most serious concerns was electrical equipment designed for indoor use that had been installed outdoors in deteriorating enclosures. Exposure to rain, temperature changes, and even rodents had caused corrosion and poor grounding, increasing the danger significantly.
$200,000 repair cost at the center of the crisis
At the heart of the situation is a steep repair bill that the property owner says she cannot afford. Estimates to fix the electrical system have been put at around $200,000, a cost that has delayed action for years.
In addition to repair costs, the owner has also been fined up to $36,000 for failing to comply with safety orders and deadlines. Regulators say the penalties reflect repeated non-compliance despite multiple warnings and opportunities to fix the issues.
The financial strain highlights a deeper issue tied to the park’s long-standing affordability. Pad rent at Crown Villa has remained under $300 per month for decades, and according to officials, it has not been increased in nearly 37 years. While this helped keep housing costs low for residents, it also meant there was little financial reserve available for major infrastructure upgrades.
Regulators noted that gradual rent increases over time could have helped build a maintenance fund, but that did not happen, leaving the property vulnerable when critical systems began to fail.
Residents step in as uncertainty grows
With no clear timeline for repairs, residents have started organizing their own support efforts. Neighbours are sharing supplies like camp stoves, pooling resources, and even launching fundraisers to help cover the cost of repairs.
Some residents have already contributed thousands of dollars collectively, while online fundraising efforts are also underway. However, officials have warned that any repair work must be completed by licensed electrical contractors and properly approved before power can be restored.
At the same time, not all residents are able to stay. Some families, especially those with children, are being forced to look for alternative housing, even as affordable options remain scarce.
The situation has created a split reality within the park — some residents are staying and coping with harsh conditions, while others are preparing to leave behind homes they may not be able to sell or move.
Hope tied to investor deal and repair timeline
The property owner has said she is in talks with a potential investor who may take partial ownership of the park and fund the necessary upgrades. If finalized, the deal could help restore power and allow residents to remain on-site.
However, that process is expected to take several weeks, leaving residents in limbo in the meantime.
Technical Safety BC has said that once repairs are completed and verified, electricity can be restored quickly. But until then, the community remains without basic services, facing an uncertain wait.
For more details on safety regulations and electrical compliance in British Columbia, visit Technical Safety BC.
What is unfolding at Crown Villa is more than just a local outage. It reflects a growing challenge across many older, low-cost housing communities — where aging infrastructure, limited funding, and rising repair costs are colliding, often leaving residents to bear the consequences.
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