Mobile Justice': A Study of the Effects of Transportation Projects on Manufactured Home Parks

Manufactured Home Parks are one of Minnesota's most valuable sources of affordable housing. There are more affordable housing units in Manufactured Home Parks (MHP's) than there are Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidized units and Rural Development units combined. Statewide, there are over 900 licensed parks in which nearly 180,000 residents live. According to HUD guidelines, 80% of these residents fall within low to very-low income brackets. In addition, MHP's in Minnesota are 87% owner occupied. This affordability of park housing combined with the opportunity for home ownership encourages long term residency, and therefore greater ties to and investment in the community. Indeed, statewide, 42% of residents have been living in their current community for more than 14 years. Since 2000, 1503 park residents have been displaced by park closures. Displaced residents often have difficulty finding affordable housing, as MHP's continue to close without replacement. Truly, the Manufactured Home Park is becoming an endangered species. The precarious position of residents who own their homes but rent their land is one in need of legislative attention. Insofar as we value the need for viable affordable housing and we respect resident's rights to housing, we need to cast aside negative biases about 'trailer parks' and find ways to keep these communities alive.Conducted on behalf of All Parks Alliance for Change. Supported by Neighborhood Partnerships for Community Research (NPCR), a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), University of Minnesota