Manufactured housing is often cited as a potential solution to two closely linked challenges in the U.S. housing market: inadequate supply and lack of affordable options for those looking to buy a home. Historically, the unusual way these homes have been treated from a financial and legal standpoint has diminished their potential, both for prospective homebuyers and for the 4.9 million existing owners of manufactured homes.

But in recent years, federal, state, and local actors have taken steps to alleviate these challenges. To highlight promising reforms, strategies, and innovations in the manufactured housing sector, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and The Pew Charitable Trusts Housing Policy Initiative are convening experts from a wide range of perspectives for a conversation on solutions.

Presenters will discuss recent efforts to improve the availability of safe and affordable financing, programs to address aging manufactured homes and community infrastructure, and opportunities to improve the residential security and wealth-building potential of manufactured homeownership.

View the detailed program agenda and register now.

This event is for state and local housing and community development practitioners, government representatives, community development lenders, funders, and other decision-makers or community members seeking to learn about best practices and innovative programs for manufactured housing.

Participation is free, but registration is required.

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Manufactured Housing: Increasing Access and Preserving Affordability - Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

GUYS, THATS RIGHT. AND MOBILE HOMES ARE LEGALLY SUPPOSED TO BE GROUNDED WITH CINDER BLOCKS AND STRAPPED DOWN WITH CONCRETE. BUT AS WEVE SEEN WITH RECENT STORMS, THEY ARE NOT TORNADO PROOF. THERES NO SAFE PLACE INSIDE OF A MOBILE HOME. A TORNADO LEVELED THE SHERMANS HOME IN HYDRO SUNDAY NIGHT. ITS DEVASTATION AT ITS FINEST. THEN THURSDAY EVENING, MORE MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED. THESE AND ALTUS EVERYBODY SAYS GET AWAY FROM THE MOBILE HOMES. YOU CANNOT RIDE IT OUT. ITS VERY TRUE. THEY ALWAYS SAY GET IN THE BATHTUB. IF YOU DONT HAVE ANY OTHER THING. OR BATHTUB IS LITERALLY A MILE EAST OF HERE AND ITS IN HALF, WE WEVE SEEN IT SO THERES REALLY NO SAFE PLACE. NOT MANY MAKE IT OUT. SO SO WERE PART OF THE VERY FEW THAT MADE IT OUT ALIVE. WE ARE AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALSO HAS THIS GUIDE ONLINE ABOUT MANUFACTURED AND MOBILE HOME SAFETY. AS SOON AS THERES A TORNADO, WATCH FOR YOUR COUNTY. EVACUATE EIGHT THE GENERAL MANAGER OF PALM HARBOR HOMES ECHOES THAT MESSAGE AND SAYS NOT EVERY HOME IS BUILT. THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INDUSTRY. SPECIFICALLY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HOME THATS BUILT WELL, AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE, UH, INSTALLERS THAT INSTALL IT CORRECTLY. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOURE IN, YOU NEED TO PUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FIRST, AND YOU SHOULD GET OUT OF ANY STRUCTURE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY COLLAPSE ON YOU. AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALSO SAYS DONT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE IT COULD BE TOO LATE. REPORTING LIVE IN OKLAHOMA CITY,

Oklahoma couple lucky to be alive shows why you can't weather out a tornado in a mobile home

Oklahomans have seen during the recent storms that mobile homes aren't tornado proof

Updated: 5:11 PM CDT May 24, 2024

You've heard it time and time again if you're in a mobile home during a tornado warning, get out.Mobile homes are legally supposed to be grounded with cinder blocks and strapped down with concrete. But Oklahomans have seen during the recent storms that mobile homes aren't tornado-proof."There's no safe space inside a mobile home," Cole Sherman, whose mobile home was destroyed by a tornado on Sunday in Hydro, said. "It's devastation at its finest."Then, on Thursday, more mobile homes were destroyed in Altus."Everybody says, 'Get away from mobile homes. You can't ride it out.' It's true," Sherman said.Heather Sherman added that while people are told to hide in their bathtub during a tornado event, theirs was "a mile east of here, and it's in half.">> Download the KOCO 5 App"Not many make it out. So, we're a part of the very few that made it out alive. And we're very grateful for it," Cole Sherman said.The National Weather Service also has a guide about manufactured and mobile home safety. As soon as there's a tornado watch in your county, the guide says you should evacuate.Austin Williams, the general manager of Palm Harbor Homes, echoes that message, saying not every home is built the same. "When it comes to our industry, specifically, you have to have a home that's built well. And you have to have installers that install it correctly," Williams said. "At the end of the day, regardless of what you're in, you need to put yourself and your family first. And you should get out of any structure that could collapse on you."Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.The National Weather Service said this is something you need to think about in advance and that you shouldn't wait for a tornado watch to be issued to figure out where to go. By the time there's a tornado warning, it could be too late to get anywhere. Top Headlines Parts of southwestern Oklahoma see tornado damage during Thursday's severe storms Pennsylvanian sentenced for Turks & Caicos ammo charge, indicating Oklahoma man's possible punishment Police: Young missionary couple from Oklahoma among 3 killed by gunmen in Haitis capital Morgan Spurlock, who famously ate only at McDonalds for a month in 'Super Size Me,' dies at 53 Remember last year's Memorial Day travel jams? Chances are they will be much worse this year

You've heard it time and time again if you're in a mobile home during a tornado warning, get out.

Mobile homes are legally supposed to be grounded with cinder blocks and strapped down with concrete. But Oklahomans have seen during the recent storms that mobile homes aren't tornado-proof.

"There's no safe space inside a mobile home," Cole Sherman, whose mobile home was destroyed by a tornado on Sunday in Hydro, said. "It's devastation at its finest."

Then, on Thursday, more mobile homes were destroyed in Altus.

"Everybody says, 'Get away from mobile homes. You can't ride it out.' It's true," Sherman said.

Heather Sherman added that while people are told to hide in their bathtub during a tornado event, theirs was "a mile east of here, and it's in half."

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

"Not many make it out. So, we're a part of the very few that made it out alive. And we're very grateful for it," Cole Sherman said.

The National Weather Service also has a guide about manufactured and mobile home safety. As soon as there's a tornado watch in your county, the guide says you should evacuate.

Austin Williams, the general manager of Palm Harbor Homes, echoes that message, saying not every home is built the same.

"When it comes to our industry, specifically, you have to have a home that's built well. And you have to have installers that install it correctly," Williams said. "At the end of the day, regardless of what you're in, you need to put yourself and your family first. And you should get out of any structure that could collapse on you."

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

The National Weather Service said this is something you need to think about in advance and that you shouldn't wait for a tornado watch to be issued to figure out where to go. By the time there's a tornado warning, it could be too late to get anywhere.

Top Headlines

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Oklahomans show why you need to leave mobile home before tornado - KOCO Oklahoma City

New Clayton eBullt Homes to Help Homeowners Save Money on Utilities Long-Term

LONDON, Ky., May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Clayton, a leading national builder of single-family attainable housing, broke ground on a new neighborhood of energy-efficient modern manufactured homes in London, Kentucky. The neighborhood, called Redbud Estates, will include 51 properties featuring Clayton CrossMod homes. Several Kentucky officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony, including City of London Mayor Randall Weddle and Assistant Director for the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy Ashley Runyon.

In Eastern Kentucky, energy cost savings with eBuilt homes are estimated to be about $862 annually.

CrossMod homes are built to HUD code and seamlessly integrate site-built features, such as elevated roof pitches, garages, porches, interior finishes and permanent foundations, making them indistinguishable from traditional site-built homes. CrossMod homes appraise alongside site-built homes and other CrossMod homes, helping homeowners achieve wealth building opportunities through appreciation. CrossMod homes are also eligible for conventional financing programs.

"We are thrilled to witness the opportunity to promote growth and development by introducing new attainable housing opportunities in London and Laurel County, " said Randall Weddle, Mayor of London. "In addition to creating new housing, the development will help advance local zoning policies that allow for more innovative housing solutions."

CrossMod homes are uniquely positioned to increase attainable housing supply. By leveraging the off-site home building process, builders can efficiently construct CrossMod homes at scale inside home building facilities, then complete on-site finishes at the final property. Given their indistinguishable features from traditional site-built homes, these homes help the industry address restrictive zoning hurdles that have historically limited the acceptance of modern manufactured homes.

"As Governor, but more importantly as a dad to two kids, I understand how important it is for all of our families to have a safe place to call home," said Governor Andy Beshear. "Today, I feel hopeful seeing the folks at Clayton teaming up with leaders from the city and state to provide more affordable, energy-efficient homes for families right here in London."

All properties in Redbud Estates will be eBuilt homes, meaning they are built to the U.S. Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home specifications. eBuilt homes are estimated to save homeowners up to 50% on annual energy costs1, providing homeowners a low cost of ownership over the lifetime of their home. In Eastern Kentucky, those savings are estimated to be about $862 annually.2

"This is such an important time for cities and counties everywhere to welcome attainable housing innovations for their residents. As cities like London continue to embrace CrossMod and modern manufactured homes, we can challenge outdated zoning codes and over time provide homeowners with wealth-building opportunities," said Kevin Clayton, CEO. "This neighborhood is a great example of how modern manufactured homes can help increase America's housing supply while offering homeowners long-term monthly savings through energy efficiency."

Four Clayton-owned home centers - including Clayton Homes of London, Clayton Homes of Corbin, Oakwood Homes of London and Freedom Homes of London - are working with local contractors to lead the neighborhood development.

Learn more about CrossMod homes and the floor plans that will be available at Redbud Estateshere: http://www.claytonhomes.com/crossmod

1 energy.gov ZERH guidelines 2 Energy savings are based on electrical consumption in Somerset, KY using NREL BEopt to estimate annual energy consumption of a home built to DOE Zero Energy Ready Home guidelines compared to the same home built only to industry and HUD standards in the cities listed.

About Clayton Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life and building happyness through homeownership. A Berkshire Hathaway company, Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices, and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. The company's portfolio includes a comprehensive range of site-built, modern manufactured, Tiny, CrossMod and modular housing. In 2023, Clayton built more than 52,000 homes across the country. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

CrossMod is a registered trademark of the Manufactured Housing Institute.

SOURCE Clayton

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Governor Beshear and Clayton Break Ground on Neighborhood of 51 Energy-Efficient CrossMod Homes in London ... - PR Newswire

Interim policy compensates displaced home-owners with $20,000, provides relocation assistance

More protections are on the way for residents of manufactured home parks in Mission.

At the May 21 meeting, council unanimously adopted the Manufactured Home Park Redevelopment Tenant Assistance Policy on an interim basis, with the intention of replacing it with a bylaw in the future.

The new policy includes protections that would require compensation to tenants who own their housing unit. The payout would be based on appraised values, assessed values or $20,000, per the report.

The policy also requires rezoning applicants to include a relocation assistance plan and a commitment to hire a qualified professional to assist tenants impacted.

Additionally, the developer will need to provide proof of early and ongoing tenant notification, including a consultation meeting early in the process for tenants to voice comments.

The policy has been modelled after a Maple Ridge policy in use since 2023. Policies from other municipalities have been reviewed and could inform future amendments to the policy or bylaws.

The provincial Residential Tenancy Act and Manufactured Park Home Tenancy Act already provide some protection measures.

Meanwhile, a new provincial bill (Bill 16) provides municipalities with the authority to develop Tenant Protection Bylaws.

These bylaws can require developers to provide added support for tenants facing displacement in cases of redevelopment, including financial assistance, assistance with finding a new place to live and opportunities for right of first refusal on units in a new building, the staff report reads.

City staff will soon review the advantages of developing a bylaw under Bill 16.

The initial compensation payout in Missions policy was $10,000, but council resolved to double it. Coun. Jag Gill said it doesnt buy much.

Thats just the reality of it. For a lot of folks, they put all their money into these manufactured homes. So Im hoping that theres something that gives them a little bit more protection and if its those bills that staff talked about in the report, I look forward to seeing those as well, Gill said.

Council decided to act on the issue at the April 15 meeting after residents of the Grove Mobile Home Park on Lougheed Highway received a letter from new owners informing them of plans to redevelop the park into a multi-family residential and commercial project.

At the meeting, council asked whether a moratorium on development of manufactured home parks would be possible.

However, according to the report on May 21, staff determined a moratorium on processing development applications for redevelopment of manufactured home parks is not possible under the current legislative framework.

Mission Mayor Paul Horn says protecting tenants is an evolving process. He said the city is sending a message to potential developers of manufactured home parks that council will be watching and that developments must consider the needs of current residents.

READ MORE: Residents fear homelessness if Mission mobile home park closes

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Mission council approves temporary protections for manufactured home tenants - Mission City Record

Last August, an elderly man named Ronald Davies was at home with his sick wife in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. It was summertime. Their air conditioning unit had recently broken, and when investigators finally arrived to check on them, the temperature inside their mobile home was 102 degrees.

Davies and his wife were two of the 645 people who died in last summers record-shattering heat, according to records from the Maricopa County medical examiner.

Nearly half of those people lived outdoors without shelter, but public health officials and lawmakers are starting to pay more attention to the risk of dying indoors.

In a city where temperatures can flirt with 120 degrees, not everyone has air conditioning or the money to pay an electric bill.

Carole Ann Kane was one of those people without AC.

She lives with her dog Penny in a one-bedroom mobile home in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa. Kane moved in January after a split with her husband. Her mobile home is a clean and tidy place but had no air conditioning.

Kane knew this when she moved in. But she had few options.

After her husband left, she says she unwittingly gave $30,000 to a scammer who walked away with her nest egg.

Kanes daughters helped buy the mobile home with the little money she had left. Now she lives on $1,700 per month from Social Security to pay the bills, plus another $250 from a retirement account.

An air conditioning unit was not in the budget.

The only thing I can do was hope and pray that we can get the money together to get an air conditioning, Kane says. Its hard.

By May, temperatures had already topped 100 degrees, and Kane was feeling anxious and desperate with the summer approaching.

Kane would wake up in a pool of sweat and get overheated doing the dishes. Her dog suffers in the dangerous situation, too.

It breaks my heart to see her panting the way shes panting, Kane says.

Experts say the vast majority of people who die indoors in a Phoenix summer actually have AC. They just cant afford to use it.

Kane is 82. She has asthma. She lives alone.

All these factors put her at risk, says Patricia Solis, director of the Knowledge Exchange for Resilience at Arizona State University.

When youre starting to compile risk upon risk upon risk, they are exponential, Solis says.

Solis has examined heat deaths indoors in recent years and found that 30% to 40% of the heat-related indoor deaths in the Phoenix metro area happened in mobile homes, RVs and trailers. In 2023, records show that number fell to 24%.

It very much surprised me, she said. It was one of those things that are hidden in plain sight.

The regions sunny weather has long been a draw to seniors looking for an affordable place to retire.

But across the state, Solis says her team has identified 175,000 mobile homes built before 1990. That means they likely have poor insulation or leaky windows and generally dont live up to modern building standards.

People who live in mobile homes typically own the structure but rent the land from the park. Solis says some park managers prohibit people from installing shade structures and have ordered residents to take the AC units out of their front windows.

To prohibit you from using life-saving technology does not seem like something that people in Arizona would permit, she says. We may not agree on everything, but that seems like a no-brainer to me.

In April, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bi-partisan bill that protects a tenants right to install air-conditioning window units or other cooling technology in a mobile home. Republican House member David Cook co-sponsored the legislation. Cook says this issue is closely related to the states housing shortage.

Rents have soared in recent years. Evictions are near record highs, and some people are willing to suffer without AC if it means staying in their homes.

People are on fixed incomes, Cook says. Now theyre dealing with inflation. They may have their homes paid for in one of these spots and thats all they have. The next step is homelessness.

Last July, Phoenix suffered 31 straight days of 110-degree temperatures. More people died of heat-related illness than ever before.

So why would any mobile home park ban a window AC unit?

At a legislative committee hearing earlier this year, a lobbyist with the Manufactured Housing Communities of Arizona answered that question.

Historically there have been some pretty loud ones, and also they are just a bit more unsightly, says the lobbyist, Janna Day, explaining why some parks have restricted window units.

The organization supports mobile home park owners. Here & Now reached out for further comment, but they did not respond.

DeAnna Mireau kept a close eye on the bill as it moved through the legislature. She leads the Arizona Association of Manufactured Home, RV & Park Model Owners, a statewide group of mobile home park residents.

You know what I find more unsightly? Is watching my neighbor be removed from their home in a body bag, she says from the front patio of her mobile home in Phoenix. This is a life-saving bill were talking about.

Mireau says the management of her park allows residents to use heat-blocking techniques, and her home looks like an oasis.

A trellis casts deep shade on the patio. A blossoming bougainvillea bush covers the tinted front window. A few years ago when her central air broke down she could afford a new $6,000 wall-mounted mini-split system.

But none of her precautions were enough during last summers record heat wave.

You couldnt cool the place last year, she says.

And she wasnt alone. Mireau says her group gets calls all the time from members worried about two things: Rent and heat.

Worry-free living and affordable housing those terms are no longer applicable, she says.

Meanwhile with the calendar marching toward summer, Carole Ann Kane finally caught a break in Mesa.

In mid-April, she used small rotary fans and a portable AC unit to stay cool. A thermometer on the table in her living room showed the temperature outside was 93 degrees nothing compared to what it will read in July. The sense of urgency to find a permanent air-conditioning solution was growing. But Kane refused to acknowledge her risk of dying.

I dont want to think about that, she says. Im praying to God that we get something going before it gets to be 110.

A few weeks later, Kanes tax return came through with just enough money to buy a $1,700 mini-split system. One blows cool air in the front room, another one in the back.

Finally, her prayers had been answered.

Continue reading here:
Can you survive summer indoors without AC? In Arizona, many don't - WBUR News

Attorney General, State of Delaware

Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings has obtained a preliminary victory for residents of the Pine Haven manufactured home community after the community owner, Blue Beach Bungalows DE LLC, was found to have violated statutory protections afforded to the residents.

An administrative hearing officer issued an opinion Thursday, April 4, finding that Blue Beach has willfully violated Delawares Consumer Fraud Act, among other laws, and ordered the company to pay more than $800,000 in penalties, along with rebates of excess rent paid by residents. Blue Beach has 30 days to appeal the order.

Owners of manufactured home communities should consider themselves on notice, said Jennings. Exploiting vulnerable Delawareans with threats and lies is not something manufactured home community owners can expect to get away with.

In April 2023, after receiving numerous complaints from residents, the AGs Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) issued a summary cease-and-desist order requiring Blue Beach to refrain from making false statements to residents and evicting residents in violation of the law, among other things. The cease-and-desist order was accompanied by a complaint detailing how residents were subjected to illegal rent increases, illegally threatened with eviction and arrest, and, in some cases, forced out of their homes prematurely. An administrative proceeding followed, culminating in an administrative hearing in September 2023.

The harm caused by [Blue Beach]s actions cannot be undone, the hearing officer wrote in a 90-page opinion issued on April 4. Despite being operated as a manufactured home community with numerous year-round residents, the park owner was found to have repeatedly made false and misleading claims as to the nature of the park as justification for taking action against residents.

The hearing officer ordered the park owner to rebate all tenants and former tenants any excess rental payments, and awarded an administrative penalty of $737,000 for willful violations of the Consumer Fraud Act, as well as a penalty of $94,000 for violations of the cease-and-desist order. The park owner has the option to appeal, and the order is not final until the window for appeal is closed.

A number of Pine Haven residents targeted for eviction by the park owner were protected due to a recent amendment to Delawares Manufactured Housing Code. 2022s House Bill 374, proposed by Jennings and sponsored by state Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, that expanded the definition of a manufactured home to include certain camper trailers, recreational vehicles, and motor homes.

Manufactured housing complaints can be made to the Office of the Manufactured Housing Ombudsperson on the Delaware Department of Justices website or by calling the hotline at 1-800-220-5424.

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AG obtains victory for manufactured housing residents | State | coastalpoint.com - Coastal Point

83 ANNA ROBERT CIRCLE, Wells $336,900 2 beds, 2 baths, 1,244 SF

Built in 2017 and situated in the Sun-N-Sea Village, this year-round home comes with a generator, shed, a deck and a little patio space. The listing says many upgrades have been made since 2022, including new lighting, plumbing fixtures and carpets. In the kitchen, you can see the new tile backsplash alongside white cabinets and a stainless-steel refrigerator. The water heater was added this year. Monthly association fees are $425. Represented by Patricia Berry, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group. See the full listing.

9 COLONY WAY, Kittery $389,900 3 beds, 2 baths, 1,387 SF

This home with a two-car garage was erected last year as part of the most recent expansion of the Yankee Mobile Home Community, with nearly 200 residences in mixed and 55+ neighborhoods. No interior photos have been shared, but the listing claims stainless steel kitchen appliances and blueprints show a mudroom, kitchen with breakfast nook, open concept living space, and a primary bed and bath placed is on the opposite end of the other two bedrooms and bath. Monthly association fees are $650. Represented by Carrie Alex, Keller Williams Coastal Realty. Off market.

69 COUNTRY WAY, North Berwick $495,000 3 beds, 2 baths, 1,746 SF

In addition to a whole house generator, two-car garage and landscaped yard, this circa 2020 house shows attention to detail in its design: recessed lighting, French and sliding barn doors, maximized closet space and a tiled shower. In the kitchen, find stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink and granite island, which the chef can look over to an open dining and living area. Located in the 39-lot development of Country Estates. Pets are welcome. Represented by Marie Burbank, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, The Masiello Group. See the full listing.

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Manufactured homes for 55+ buyers in York County - Press Herald

LINCOLN, DE - Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings has announced hefty penalties for the owner of the Pine Haven manufactured home community near Lincoln for alleged violations of Delawares Consumer Fraud Act and other state laws.

According to the Attorney Generals office, Blue Beach Bungalows DE, LLC, violated Pine Haven residents statutory protections through illegal rent increases, eviction and arrest threats, and forcing some residents from their homes.

An administrative hearing officer issued an opinion on April 4th, Jennings office says, that found Blue Beach willfully conducted these violations and ordered the company to pay over $800,000 in penalties as well as rebates of excess rent paid by Pine Hill residents.

The Delaware Department of Justice says Blue Beach has 30 days to appeal and the order is not final until the window for an appeal has closed.

Owners of manufactured home communities should consider themselves on notice, said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. Exploiting vulnerable Delawareans with threats and lies is not something manufactured home community owners can expect to get away with.

Jennings Consumer Protection Unit issued a cease and desist order against Blue Beach in April of 2023 after receiving numerous complaints from residents.

A recent amendment to Delawares Manufactured Housing Code which expanded the definition of a manufactured home to include certain camper trailers, recreational vehicles, and motor homes protected some Pine Haven residents targeted for eviction according to the DOJ.

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Over $800k in Penalties for Lincoln Manufactured Home Community Owner - WBOC TV 16

At its meeting on Feb. 13, 2024, the North Liberty City Council unanimously pass a resolution in support ofmanufactured home residents organizing, calling for fixes to state law, fairness in lot rents and increases, and to allow local entities to peruse local solutions.

Resolution in Support of Manufactured Housing Park Residents

WHEREAS, residents of manufactured housing parks in our community have alerted City of North Liberty staff and elected officials to alarming increases in their lot rent, coupled with reductions and deficiencies in park maintenance, and

WHEREAS, residents of manufactured housing parks in our community have protested the relative lack of protections available to them under state law, including eviction without cause; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of North Liberty recognizes that our communitys housing costs have outpaced local incomes, and that manufactured homes have traditionally been of vital importance as one of the most affordable sources of safe, decent housing; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of North Liberty recognizes that residents of manufactured housing parks support our economy and community, provide many of the services and work that our local economy needs to thrive; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of North Liberty recognizes that to ensure fairness across our City and our state, leaders at all levels of government and throughout the community need to work together to guarantee residents of manufactured home parks stability, safety, and security.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH LIBERTY, IOWA, AS FOLLOWS:

We see and hear manufactured housing park residents as they speak out on the unfairness that has become a part of their lives and threatens their homes; and

We offer gratitude to manufactured housing park residents for the work they do to organize and speak out, often despite concerns about how such action might also threaten their ability to stay in their homes; and

We add the voice of the City of North Liberty to the calls for the owners of manufactured housing parks in and around our community to reduce the amount and frequency of rent increases, restore park maintenance and other services to park residents that they previously relied upon; and

We add the voice of the City of North Liberty to the calls for State elected officials to fix state laws to address the unfairness that makes so many of our residents vulnerable to unscrupulous practices; and

We call upon state lawmakers to restore the ability of local communities to exercise home rule and remove barriers to the enactment of local ordinances that would accomplish the above list of goals; and

We support ongoing efforts by local governments to pursue ways to improve the safety and stability of residents in manufactured housing parks.

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City Council Offers Resolution in Support of Manufactured Housing Residents - City of North Liberty

An innovative new project will happen later this year on a vacant site close to Michigan Central. The Gilbert Family Foundation is working with the North Corktown Neighborhood Association (NCNA) on Tomorrows Housing InnovationShowcase (THIS), bringing nine factory-built homes to the neighborhood.

The site is at 16th Street and Perry, near the I-75 Service Drive. It's in a part of North Corktown that hasn't seen development in years and has many vacant sites nearby.

The NCNA is working with its community and different manufacturers on the sustainable, energy-efficient homes. The NCNA will have a community land trust with the goal of having these homes accessible to first-time homebuyers and renters.

For years, weve heard from our residents that North Corktown needs diverse housing options, and this project is one solution to address the housing gaps, said Tricia Talley, NCNA Executive Director. We appreciate the support of residents who are proud to call North Corktown home and want to collaborate on bringing the project to life.

The groups plan to unveil the new homes in late summer. The community will be engaged with design and how the land trust will work. Tribe Development, who's also working on the Deco on East Warren, will be helping with the community meetings.

While Corktown has been booming with development over the last 10 years, North Corktown hasn't seen the same level of investment. Some single-family and townhomes have been built in recent years, but there's still a lot of land sitting empty in a prime location in the city.

At one time in our history, Detroit built more housing than any city in the world, but today, Detroit lacks quality, affordable housing solutions, said Laura Grannemann, ExecutiveDirector of the Gilbert Family Foundation. This investment will showcase the nextgeneration of housing solutions, putting Detroit at the center of housing innovation andattracting future jobs and investment to our city. We are grateful for this opportunity to laythe groundwork for a more stable housing ecosystem alongside our partners at NorthCorktown Neighborhood Association.

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With Gilbert Foundation funding, 9 manufactured homes coming to North Corktown - Urbanize LA