Our industry has a virus. And, like any computer virus, it is spreading and mutating throughout our network of mobile home parks. These parks are being purchased by mega-million-dollar corporations with the explicit intention to bleed the homeowners'' dry of all financial resources. Only 2% of all MHP's in California are protected by city rent control laws. These corporations are now attacking the cities themselves via expensive litigation in an effort to break the city, and all rent control regulations. The other 98% are now, or soon will be paying 60% to 80% of their household budget in space rent.

We are experiencing the following abuses:

Over 30% of all Mobile Home Parks in California are now owned by mega- million-dollar corporations. These corporations see us as 'cash cows,' and they are getting away with:

Current laws governing this industry were adapted from "apartment rental" laws, and are ineffectual at best to protect a home-owner. Over the years since the MRL (Mobile Home Residency Law) went into effect, lobbyists for "Big Business" (Real Estate, Park Owners, etc.) have managed to water down these laws to the point of non-existent protections.

The overall effect of these abuses is resulting in an increased strain on our already over taxed Social Service Agencies. Cities, counties, and tax dollars currently support an unprecedented number of homeless. Should this situation continue to be ignored, and remain unchecked, hundreds of thousands of seniors and working poor families will join the ranks of the homeless in California. Our system will collapse under the numbers of seniors who find themselves without a roof over their head. More children will be living on the streets of Los Angeles. Then, all of a sudden, California will resemble a "Third World Country." Currently, 70% of the children of Los Angeles are living in poverty, and 40% have no access to medical coverage.

Manufactured homes are not going away, and manufactured homeowners' are not transient. Manufactured homes, and manufactured home parks are preferred by seniors for their sense of community, amenities, and security provisions over condominiums. When was the last time you saw a condominium with a front porch? And, our Baby Boomers are approaching retirement age. Our senior population in California will increase by 70% before 2015. We must preserve MHP's, and manufactured homeownership for this population of citizenry, and create more homeownership in the form of real equity building opportunities for our low-to-moderate income families who are choosing manufactured housing.

We intend to gather the troops, tap extensive resources, and positively affect the 'quality of life' amongst our homeowners'.

We intend to engage and encourage other progressive organizations with common interests to join us in a cooperative effort to affect real change.
We intend to create one 'Very Loud Voice' of homeownership rights in the media for all parks, not just a "trailer park in trouble story."
We intend to preserve manufactured home parks, and manufactured homeownership as a resource of affordable housing for seniors, disabled persons, and low-to-moderate income families.
We intend to affect public opinion of manufactured home parks, and manufactured homes via education.

We intend to achieve equality of state and local laws.

CLICK BELOW:

L.A. Area:

Glenn Bell

gbell@

neighborhoodfriends.us

Orange County:

Samii Taylor

windsorgrp@sbcglobal.net

Call us now!

818-890-1113

"Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead