SOUTH BEND—Residents of Countryside Village mobile home park have been notified they have just one day left to remove their window air conditioning units, leaving many without a safe way to cool their homes in the height of summer. State Senator David Niezgodski (D–South Bend) released the following statement:

“Banning window A/C units in trailer homes is a death sentence to many,” said Niezgodski. “Mobile homes become ovens in the summer without central air, an upgrade that is simply unaffordable for many residents. This new policy disproportionately harms low-income Hoosiers who are just trying to stay safe.”

The ban has been linked to a narrow interpretation of House Bill 1541, legislation passed in 2021 unanimously in both chambers to address landlord-tenant relations. Niezgodski emphasized that this was never the intended use of the law.

“The situation unfolding at Countryside Village is not what I voted for,” said Niezgodski. “I am extremely disappointed that the state has so few tools now to intervene and protect vulnerable residents from dangerous heat exposure.”

Niezgodski is calling on state and local officials to explore all available options to reverse or delay enforcement of the A/C ban, and to provide relief to affected families.

In the meantime, residents seeking a place to stay cool can access a list of local cooling centers here: Cooling Centers in South Bend