Expanding Access to Affordable, Safe and Resident-Centered Manufactured Home Communities
The United States is facing a shortage of affordable housing, with some estimates ranging from 3.8 to 7 million homes. New Mexico’s housing crisis includes a shortage of at least 32,000 affordable units.
Manufactured home communities (“MHCs) — also known as mobile home parks — have been the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the United States for decades. These communities were the solution to the affordable housing crisis after World War II, providing affordable housing, opportunities for home ownership, and supportive community living to returning veterans and their new families.
MHCs flourished as small mom-and-pop businesses and mutually beneficial arrangements until outside investors discovered MHCs to be “cash cows” and “passive income” investments. During the last two decades, private-equity firms, multi-state corporations, investors, and speculators have zeroed in on the industry. They realized that manufactured housing communities have stable returns and low overhead because:
1) homeowners are responsible for their lots and home repairs, 2) regulations are few, if any, and 3) there is little or no enforcement of the protections that do exist.
As a result, affordability and availability are disappearing, and people and their homes are at risk.
Our Mission
The purpose of LEMHOA is to create a statewide alliance of homeowners, housing advocates, and allies dedicated to protecting the rights, dignity, and stability of residents in land-lease communities. We work to ensure secure affordable housing through advocacy, community organizing, and the promotion of resident ownership. We support and promote policies and legislation that protect manufactured site tenants and their investments.
Problems & Solutions
There are as many possible solutions as problems facing people in MHCs. The focus in pursuing solutions must be on prioritizing people and homes.
News & Updates
- Words Matter: How Terminology Shapes Policy for Manufactured Home Communities (MHCs)Why Say Manufactured Home (Not “Mobile Home” or “Trailer”)? Why Say Manufactured Home Community (Not “Park”)? Why Say Landowner or Business Owner (Not “Park Owner” or “Community Owner”)?… Read More »Words Matter: How Terminology Shapes Policy for Manufactured Home Communities (MHCs)
- An Essential Part of Affordable Housing SolutionsAffordable housing solutions include not just looking at the number of homes available and how to build more, but how to make sure that existing homes are secure,… Read More »An Essential Part of Affordable Housing Solutions
Resident-Owned Communities
Resident-Owned Communities USA (ROCUSA) empowers manufactured home communities nationwide through cooperative resident ownership. They offer integrated financing and technical assistance model to ensure homeowners and their communities thrive under resident ownership and control.