On Sunday the New York Times featured an opinion piece from Andrea Levere, president of the Corporation for Enterprise Development and the board chairwoman of Resident Owned Communities USA, on the importance of manufactured housing policy. From the article:
Few stereotypes are as well entrenched — and wrongheaded — as the perception of mobile homes as the marginal housing choice of the destitute and downtrodden. Although most of today’s mobile homes aren’t truly mobile and many are situated in pleasant, tree-lined communities, these outdated assumptions prevent us from embracing an important affordable housing option. They also prevent low-income owners from reaping financial rewards from their most valuable assets — their homes. In America today, about 18 million people live in factory-built “manufactured homes.” They are disproportionately low-income, with a median annual household income of $30,000. That makes manufactured housing the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the nation. When well built and maintained, mobile homes can appreciate in value like any home and are half the price of standard “site-built” homes. Unfortunately, antiquated policies, perpetuated by powerful financial interests, prevent residents from experiencing the benefits of homeownership.
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