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A thread on living in government housing in a national park:
Recently, there was a discussion in an NPS employee group about visitors who ignore "Employees Only - Residential Area" signs, and make themselves at home. More than one ranger has come home to find tourists sitting on their couch watching TV or making lunch in their kitchen.
One ranger recalled visitors who tried to forcefully push their way in, saying they wanted to see what their tax dollars were paying for. NEWS FLASH: We pay taxes. We pay rent. We deserve safety and privacy. You aren't entitled to be in our personal space.
But, to satisfy any of you who think you are entitled, allow me to give you a quick tour of my house. Often, park housing is dilapidated, technically condemned due to mold, lead, or asbestos, and frankly, rather unlivable.
I pay $500/month for a 50 year old mobile home, about 80 miles from the closest real grocery store and nearly 200 miles from a hospital. I get mail once a week - if I'm lucky. There's no key to lock the door, and honestly, it wouldn't keep anyone out who wanted to get in anyway.
I have no heat in my bedroom (there is a small heater in the kitchen/main room) nor a/c, though temperatures reach -40°F in winter to 90°F in summer. The walls are falling apart - you can see where they've been stapled together repeatedly, but it's failing again. 
Insulation falls out of the ceiling and mice bring treats through holes in the floor. You have to be careful where you step because the carpet and vinyl flooring are the "structural integrity" holding some sections together. The floors overall are wonky and the doors off kilter.
I use my stove and a stock pot to heat water to take a bath/shower. I do have running cold water though! This board holds up the tub/keeps the outside vaguely out, but the tub is so frigid water doesn't stay hot for long. Then there's the mildew that even bleach won't kill.
The window in my bedroom has been broken since before I moved in. At some point, someone tried to tape it together. Frequently, snow and ice come in through the crack, but wind also whistles through the frame.
Ice also forms in my electrical outlets. The electrical wiring is so shoddy that when the fridge turns on, all the lights flicker. The electrician has advised me to get renters insurance and not keep anything valuable inside, because "there will be a fire."
Obviously there are perks to living in a national park, but none of us are living a life of luxury on your (our) tax dollars. Would you live here? I'm happy to answer questions you have about living in parks all over the country (aside from where do you live)!
