Idaho Manufactured Home Communities Selling Out: A Shrinking Source for Affordable Homeownership

By: State: Idaho

As developers buy up manufactured home parks in the state, lower-income homeowners see their options shrinking. That needs to change.

AARP Idaho has joined manufactured home communities, faith-based organizations, Legal Aid and other groups to work on behalf of these residents. The coalition—the Idaho Mobile/Manufactured Homeowners' Association—held a town hall meeting in Boise this spring to discuss owners' rights, community preservation and home relocation issues.

More than 300 people voiced concerns to Boise and Garden City officials and several legislators. Since 2001, more than 1,000 residents in Ada County have been forced to move when the land they leased under their homes was sold. When they try to relocate, they face a two- to four-year waiting list for other land-leasing options or Section 8 vouchers. Subsidized housing complexes have six-month waiting lists. Many shelters are already full. And moving a manufactured home is expensive, costing up to $15,000.

Owners who can't locate another space and pay to move in the 180-day time frame mandated by state law must pay nearly $5,000 to demolish their homes. Manufactured housing is critical for older Idahoans, individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses, single mothers, minorities, veterans and people who travel long distances for work.

Manufactured homes are an important source of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income Idahoans. In 2006, 11.5 percent of Idaho residents age 50 and older lived in manufactured housing—compared with only 6.5 percent nationwide.

"That's why we need to find a way to preserve these communities," said Jim Wordelman, AARP Idaho state director.

Call Dede Shelton, Associate State Director, Advocacy at 208 855-4005.