"Residents Take Charge: Mobile Home Co-ops Rise to Protect Affordable Housing"

Photo byLindsey Wasson

In a proactive response to looming threats, residents of mobile home parks across the U.S. are taking matters into their own hands. Faced with the prospect of losing their homes to redevelopment, communities are forming cooperatives to purchase and manage their parks, ensuring both stability and a voice in their living conditions.

Gadiel Galvez, a 22-year-old board member of a newly formed cooperative in Lakewood, Washington, epitomizes this grassroots movement. When news broke that their mobile home park was up for sale, potentially to be replaced by an Amazon warehouse, Galvez and his neighbors rallied together to secure their homes. With the support of a nonprofit specializing in community ownership, they acquired the park for $5.25 million in September and have since embarked on a journey of transformation.

“Everyone’s motivated to make this place better,” Galvez shared. “People are painting, remodeling, and fixing up their homes, all with a sense of pride and ownership.”

This cooperative model is increasingly seen as a viable solution to rising rent prices and the encroachment of institutional investors on affordable housing. According to George McCarthy, president and CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, resident-owned communities boast a flawless track record. “With over 300 successful resident-owned communities, the evidence is clear: this model is working and protects residents from exploitative market forces.”

Since 2015, nearly a third of mobile home parks in the U.S. have been acquired by investment firms seeking high returns from rent hikes, often leaving residents in precarious situations. Victoria O'Banion, marketing and acquisitions specialist at ROC Northwest, underscores the urgency: “Residents face homelessness if they can't keep up with rapidly increasing rents, especially when parks are sold for redevelopment.”

This predicament is vividly illustrated by recent experiences at Rimrock Court in Madras, Oregon, and Evergreen Village Cooperative in Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania. At Rimrock Court, residents faced a rent increase from $350 to $495 over five years and feared further hikes or displacement. By purchasing the park, they have stabilized their rent at $520 a month and invested in their community's future.

Similarly, Evergreen Village residents in Pennsylvania approved a significant rent increase to $750 per month to cover a $12 million loan, ensuring their long-term security. Stephen Laclair, board president, highlights the community’s commitment: “All the money goes back into the village, helping us maintain and improve our homes.”

State Senator Noel Frame of Washington emphasizes the importance of preserving mobile homes as affordable housing, particularly for older adults. However, some real estate professionals argue that new regulations might burden landlords. Robert Cochran, property manager of Contempo Mobile Home Park in Spokane, suggests that tenant organizations should act sooner rather than waiting until a crisis is imminent.

In a hopeful development, $225 million in federal funding has been allocated to support mobile home communities. Starting this year, grants will be available to states, nonprofits, and local governments to enhance and preserve these vital housing options.

The rise of mobile home co-ops signifies a powerful movement towards securing affordable housing and empowering residents to shape their own living conditions.