Resident Owned Communities in the Blackbelt/Southeast Crescent Region
Summary
The Housing Assistance Council advances alternative manufactured home park ownership models, such as resident, nonprofit, and government ownership as a way for residents to gain land tenure and financial security.
Description
There are approximately 6.7 million occupied manufactured homes in the U.S., comprising about 6 percent of the nation’s housing stock. In the rural southeast (commonly referred to as the Southeastern Crescent) the rate of rural Black households living in manufactured homes is over 25 percent. Estimates suggest that approximately 40 percent of all manufactured homes are in an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 land lease communities. Though about three quarters of manufactured homes are owner-occupied, the sector has a history of being placed on rented land and therefore manufactured homes have a pattern of land tenure status that is unique to this form of housing. Ownership of land is an important component to nearly every aspect of manufactured housing, ranging from quality to assets and wealth accumulation. Residents who do not have control over the land on which their home is placed often have fewer legal protections. Converting manufactured home communities to Resident Owned Communities (ROCs) increases the financial stability of the homeowner and the property’s value. Under the Housing Assistance Council’s model, a non-profit cooperative owns the land and manages the community. Each household is a member of the cooperative and benefits from tenure security from control of monthly lot rent, community repairs and improvements. Members also have a lifetime security against unfair eviction and the loss of their property’s value.
If you have a market-based or policy-based innovation or are interested in supporting change, connect with us!