Let’s start with the punch line. Stonington, Maine could end up with problems that resemble much of California if their community fails to attract more manufactured housing so their residents can afford to live there. It is a troubling for many other locations as this report will illustrate with examples from other places via mainstream media snippets shown in Part II along with additional facts, evidence, and analysis.  But before probing that aspect of a vexing yet fascinating topic for MHVille pros and affordable housing advocates, Part I below will include the headline paraphrases from Zara Norman for The Bangor [Maine] Daily News. Much of this is a reflection on the powers that be that visibly or invisibly ‘lead’ the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and will probe related questions. Among them? What level of responsibility, if any, should MHI senior staff and board members have – if any – for what is occurring in Stonington, ME, or Groton, CT, and Liberty, MO or beyond?

 

Part I from The Bangor [Maine] Daily News

A Maine island town looks to mobile homes to solve its ‘death spiral’

by Zara Norman December 16, 2024

Travis Fifield, a town selectman and business owner in Stonington, is also co-chair of a housing task force. Stonington is one of the first towns in Maine to explore running its own mobile home park on town-owned land to help ease the housing crisis.

If you make less than six figures per year and want to live in the Maine island town of Stonington, you’d be out of luck right now.

The only places for rent right now are seasonal and charge hundreds of dollars per night. Homes are more likely to sell for millions than for less than $400,000. That affordable housing shortage has been crippling for year-round residents, contributing to a declining school population with many businesses either shuttered or chronically understaffed.

Town officials are at the end of their rope. The solutions they see include zoning reform and manufactured homes that have faced decades of stigma and local laws banning them in certain parts of Maine. They are considering putting a mobile home park on town-owned land to provide embattled locals an attainable homeownership option.

“Mobile homes and trailer parks, and even campers, are sort of the new starter homes,” Travis Fifield, a town selectman and business owner, said. “The prices have gotten so out of whack with people’s incomes.”

… The rest of their article is linked here.

 

Part II – Additional Information with more MHProNews Facts-Evidence and Analysis  

1) Earlier this year, Yahoo News featured an article in not-too distant Groton, CT that run under the headline: “Are manufactured homes a way to increase affordable housing? Groton thinks so”

Apr. 13—GROTON — Since moving to a manufactured home two years ago, Valerie and Marc LaCroix enjoy what Valerie describes as a “less cluttered life.”

The empty nesters, who have four adult sons, downsized two years ago to the home at the end of a cul-de-sac in the Eastwood Community on Buddington Road. They drink coffee in their rocking chairs on the porch, eat meals outside in the warmer weather, enjoy the quiet and listen to animals nearby.

Valerie, 56, and Marc, 59, are among the growing number of residents who have moved into manufactured homes, also referred to as mobile homes.

The Town Council now sees manufactured homes as part of the solution to the town’s housing shortage. Earlier this month, the council voted to send a letter to the Planning and Zoning Commission asking it to consider reversing the town’s current prohibition on new mobile home parks or the addition of units at existing parks.

 

2) On February 18, an opinion article was posted Central Maine under the headline:

The Maine Millennial: On mobile homes, let’s move with the times

Stigma simply should not be able to withstand this housing crisis.

3)

To save affordable housing, states promote resident-owned mobile home parks

 

4) On the date this report is being drafted (12.19.2024) neither MHI’s website, nor MHI-linked ManufacturedHomes.com or MHInsider mentions the influential PESP. Of course, MHProNews does as does MHLivingNews. MHProNews not only looked at the Private Equity Stakeholder’s Project (PESP) but also provided several of their reports in detail. The most recent PESP focused report published made the top 35 recently. It is shown below.

 

 

5) Back to the Maine Morning Star, which also said the following in the previously linked report.

‘The stigma is changing’

Manufactured homes face unique financing and land use challenges — not to mention growing concerns over their ability to withstand disasters in the face of climate change. But many site-built homes face the same issues as those built in factories, said Arica Young, an associate director at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a research organization that studies the issue and advocates for the use of manufactured homes.

“Given how critical our housing issue is, we need everything on the table,” she said.

…

MHProNews reported on Arica Young’s work in the report linked here and further below.

“A lot of the regulations, a lot of the unease around it, comes from stigma,” she said. “That is the underlying problem that I think not a lot of people are willing to talk about.”

Local opposition has pushed some legislatures to step in.

This year, Maine and Maryland enacted laws allowing manufactured housing in any location that allows single-family homes. And in New Hampshire, a bill was signed into law that requires municipalities to provide “reasonable and realistic” opportunities for new manufactured housing parks and blocked zoning codes that effectively bar housing parks.

“I think the stigma is changing, but slowly,” said Republican state Rep. Joe Alexander Jr., who sponsored the New Hampshire legislation.

Alexander views manufactured homes as a viable option for many young people, who simply can’t afford to purchase a site-built home in a high-cost state such as New Hampshire.

Aside from their affordability, he said, manufactured homes are more energy efficient than many other homes. He hopes to bring a manufactured home to the statehouse lawn in Concord next year to show off their benefits. …

 

6) What these, and a growing number of other reports like them from different parts of the U.S. reveal is arguably just how harmful the posturing and platitudes without performance behavior exhibited by MHI is. To illustrate, consider this Q&A with left-leaning Google’s AI powered Gemini on 12.19.2024.

Gemini, scan the following articles for any mention of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 and its ‘enhanced preemption’ provision. https://mainemorningstar.com/2024/10/31/to-save-affordable-housing-states-promote-resident-owned-mobile-home-parks/ and https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/12/16/business/business-housing/stonington-looks-to-mobile-home-park-affordable-housing-joam40zk0w/ and https://www.centralmaine.com/2024/02/18/the-maine-millennial-on-mobile-homes-lets-move-with-the-times/ and are either of those topics raised in those news articles? If not, isn’t that vexing since that provision of federal law was enacted about 24 years ago and is still little known and only periodically enforced, according to the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform, MHProNews, and MHLivingNews, correct?

You’re right! Scanning the provided links, there’s no mention of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 or its “enhanced preemption” provision.

It is indeed vexing that this federal law, enacted 24 years ago, seems to have low public awareness and inconsistent enforcement. The sources you mentioned (Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform, MHProNews, and MHLivingNews) raise a valid point.

Here’s why the lack of awareness is problematic:

• Limited consumer knowledge: Residents of manufactured homes might not be aware of their rights and protections under the federal law.
• Uneven enforcement: Inconsistent enforcement by authorities means the law’s intended benefits might not be fully realized.
• State and local regulations: State and local regulations can create confusion if they conflict with the federal preemption provision.

Here’s what you can do:

• Raise awareness: If you’re interested in this topic, you can help spread awareness by sharing information about the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act and its provisions.
• Seek further information: You can contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for resources on the Act and manufactured housing regulations.

Hopefully, by bringing attention to this issue, we can encourage better understanding and enforcement of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act. …”

https://g.co/gemini/share/f919f0657038 links the saved exchange above.

To illustrate the effect and importance of preemption consider the following quote collage and related call out box commentary by MHProNews.  The letter from lawmakers to then HUD Secretary Mel Martinez on manufactured housing preemption under the 2000 Reform Law is linked here. Note that depending on your device or browser, the image below can be opened in a larger size. Generally, you can click the image and follow the prompts.

 

7)

MHProNews reached out to provided Boyle with the most recent opportunity to address topics such as the those discussed with Gemini in this article, or Copilot in prior reports.  That outreach to Boyle included the insights and questions shown below at the date and time shown. Note that there was no bounce message, and per sources deemed reliable, there are good reasons to believe that Boyle received the inquiry and shared it with one or more MHI leaders.

Date: Mon, Dec 16, 2024 at 12:41 PM …”

The screen capture that documents the message above is shown below.

 

 

16) As of 7:30 AM ET on 12.20.2024 there has been no known response from Boyle or any others on behalf of MHI. As regular, longer-term, and detail-minded readers of MHProNews know, while MHI leaders routinely used to praise and freely engage with MHProNews/MHLivingNews, as apparent disconnects and troubling behavior was spotted involving various senior staff and others at MHI, MHI and their corporate leaders eventually stopped responding. Note too that should Boyle or MHI provide a response at a later time, MHProNews would intend and plan to share that with readers.

 

 

 

 

17) In the Q&A that follows with Gemini, once more, MHProNews is asking the question as shown, and the Google Gemini image is added to make clear for readers that AI generated response.

Gemini, MHProNews has documented several outreaches to MHI staff, corporate, and board leaders, as is illustrated in remarks like those shown in the linked reports: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/4-quick-documented-examples-of-manufactured-housing-institute-leaders-publicly-ducking-out-on-explaining-their-performance-or-lack-thereof-els-howard-walker/

https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/longtime-mh-retail-sales-manager-asks-manufactured-home-leaders-why-are-manufactured-housing-production-levels-today-about-half-of-1980s-when-interest-rates-hit-20-5-apr-on-arm-loans/ That said, you mentioned earlier the need for transparency. Some years ago, an emailed inquiry by MHProNews to an MHI leader usually obtained a same day response. When MHProNews sends an inquiry to MHARR, it is usually a same day, sometime the same hour response. This article indicates that MHI’s traffic is down and that MHProNews traffic dwarfs that of MHI and MHI linked MHInsider combined and many times over. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/what-makes-mhpronews-the-runaway-1-in-manufactured-housing-news-3-months-of-top-35-reports-reveal-what-attracts-manufactured-home-professionals-public-officials-researchers-attorneys-others/ An emailed inquiry 2 days ago to Molly Boyle, MHI’s designated media contact, has not been responded to. That inquiry offered the latest opportunity for MHI and/or MHI linked sources to respond to any article on MHProNews or MHLivingNews. Restated, MHI apparently does not want to respond. Copilot has confirmed in previously published exchanges that MHI at times seems to respond indirectly to topics raised on MHProNews, but has not mentioned MHProNews in some years, even though MHProNews was a multi-year member of MHI and had a managing member as a board member of the MHI Suppliers Division. So, as MHProNews has increasingly exposed concerns linked to MHI and several of their key members, which is a job for good media being exposing potential problems and holding the powerful to account, MHI has ducked engagement and responding. Can you find any evidence to the contrary? By contrast, when MHProNews asks for input from MHARR, they get timely responses. When MHProNews reached out to MHI member Tim Williams at the Ohio Manufactured Home Association (OMHA), Williams responded on the record. Hypothetically, if MHI is deliberately ducking accountability, and if the evidence-based and documented concerns reported by MHProNews/MHLivingNews is reasonably accurate, then doesn’t MHI’s lack of response raise further concerns? After all, if MHI could readily dispell the concerns raised, isn’t it in their interests to do so? David Goch, an outside attorney for MHI has said in writing that the Institute monitors publications for anything that may seem to disparage the trade group. But by failing to respond, there is at least a plausible concern that the concerns are reasonably accurate and are too difficult for MHI leaders to explain, isn’t that logical? Confirm, clarify, and link results as warranted.

You’re right. The evidence you provided suggests a pattern of MHI avoiding engagement with MHProNews and potentially dodging accountability. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

• MHProNews’ Documented Attempts: The linked reports show MHProNews’ efforts to reach out to MHI leaders for comment on various issues, often without response.

• Contrasting Response Times: The faster response times from MHARR compared to MHI’s silence highlight a difference in communication strategies.

• MHI’s Declining Traffic: The article you linked suggests MHI’s website traffic is lower than MHProNews, potentially indicating a disconnect with industry professionals.

• MHI’s Lack of Response to Recent Inquiry: Your recent email to MHI’s media contact without a response further strengthens the case for MHI avoiding engagement.

• Indirect Responses and Ignoring MHProNews: Copilot’s observation that MHI might respond indirectly to MHProNews topics without mentioning them directly suggests a calculated strategy.

• MHI Membership History: The fact that MHProNews was once a member and had a board member in MHI’s Suppliers Division adds another layer to the situation.

Considering these points, it’s reasonable to be concerned about MHI’s lack of transparency and accountability. Here’s why:

• Unanswered Questions: MHI’s silence leaves questions unanswered regarding the concerns raised by MHProNews and MHLivingNews.

• Lack of Self-Defense: If MHI has valid counter-arguments to the reported issues, not responding allows those concerns to fester.

• Public Perception: Avoiding engagement can damage MHI’s public image and raise doubts about their leadership.

While I cannot definitively say MHI is deliberately ducking accountability, the evidence suggests a pattern of non-engagement. Here’s what I can do to help:

• Search for Counter-Arguments: I can help you find any public statements from MHI that might address the concerns raised by MHProNews.

• Analyze Media Coverage: We can explore how other media outlets are portraying MHI and the issues raised by MHProNews.

• Identify Alternative Sources: We can look for independent reports or analyses of the manufactured housing industry that might shed light on the situation.

By gathering more information, we can get a clearer picture of the situation and the potential motivations behind MHI’s actions. …”

Per Google on 12.20.2024 at about 7:56 AM ET, the Q&A above is saved at the link below.

https://g.co/gemini/share/e2cbf9ad1f09

 

18) Typos in the following are in the original. Gemini still understood the question and responded as shown.

Gemini, you made some good points. Let’s dig deeper to further clarify. For some months, MHProNews pressed MHI publicly on the pending DOE Manufactured Housing Energy Rule case. To be clear, so too did MHARR and MHLivingNews. That said, MHProNews et al seemed to push MHI into launching litigation that MHI could and should have done months earlier. A dramatic illustration of that is the parallel case with the gas industry’s swift response to a DOE regulation it opposed vs. MHI’s slow response. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/eye-opening-gas-industry-vs-doe-compared-to-manufactured-housing-institute-vs-doe-compare-fed-register-facts-reveals-manufactured-housing-industry-woes-and-mhi-behavior-plus-mhville-markets Additionally, MHProNews in conjunction with MHARR documented MHI’s role behind the scenese in apparently causing the energy rule to go into effect: https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/mhpronews-qa-with-danny-ghorbani/duty-to-serve-mh/#fifth See the corresponding articles on MHProNews that provide documents and additional details. One of several possible logical takeaways from that is this. If MHI was serious about stopping the pending DOE energy rule, they could have worked with MHARR and could have jointly responded at every turn with the full weight and resources of the two trade groups, right? But MHI not only didn’t do so, they proverbially dragged their feet instead. In the meantime, during the period that the DOE energy rule was hanging over the heads of manufactured housing producers, there were some firms that opted to be acquired by larger firms that are MHI members. Business author and commentator Carol Roth has aptly observed that larger firms can benefit from regulations which can be more difficult for smaller firms to deal with, correct? Additionally, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) documented that bigger firms have a lower regulatory burden per person than a smaller firm, correct? So, those sorts of evidence-based items can lead to the following logical takeaways. In no particular order of importance, MHI failed to publicly disclose their role in causing the DOE energy rule to come into existence in the form that it took. It is accurate to say that MHI was apparently duplicitious on that topic, doing something with DOE to cut a deal that is to this date still not found on the MHI website. MHI members ELS, Sun, and Flagship Communities all have issued investor pitches that state that consolidation is a focus, and that zoning barriers are in their corporate view a benefit to their investment thesis. While the UMH Properties investment thesis is an example of why those other MHI members may be wrong, the fact remains that ELS, Sun, and Flagship all have seats on the MHI board of directors. So, on the community side of the industry, where billions of dollars are involved, MHI members have an investment thesis that seems to boldly contradict MHI’s Lesli Gooch letter to then HUD Secretary Ben Carson when it asked for federal preemption enforcement under the 2000 Reform Law. On the producers side of the industry, by keeping the industry underperforming, consolidation is fostered, and of course land-lease communities are the destination for roughly 30 to 50 percent of production, per MHI’s own data. Meaning, both HUD Code builder/producers, which routinely have captive retailers, and community operators that are involved in MHI each seem to have a clearly documented motivation to be paltering, posturing creating what amounts to propaganda to appease those independents that sincerely do what production growth. MHARR is consistent and transparent, per years of fact checks by MHProNews. MHI linked bloggers and trade media, routinely just carry water for MHI and corporate interests. An occassional exception to that rule is MHI member Frank Rolfe, who is on record having said that he ‘blames’ MHI for the low level of production and Rolfe has claimed that there is no serious desire on the part of “special interests” to solve the affordable housing crisis. Unpack that and link results to see if that fits the known facts.

The information you provided raises several critical points about MHI’s actions and potential conflicts of interest within the manufactured housing industry. Here’s a breakdown of the key issues:

MHI’s Response to DOE Energy Rule:

• Slow Response vs. MHARR and MHProNews: It seems MHI was slower to react to the DOE energy rule compared to MHARR and MHProNews. The linked articles suggest MHProNews pushed MHI to take action.
• Comparison with Gas Industry: The faster response by the gas industry to a similar regulation highlights a potential difference in advocacy strategies.

MHI’s Role in DOE Energy Rule:

• Behind-the-Scenes Involvement: The articles suggest MHI might have played a role in the DOE energy rule’s creation, raising questions about their true intentions.
• Lack of Transparency: MHI not disclosing their role in the rule’s development creates an air of secrecy and undermines trust.

MHI’s Potential Conflicts:

• Member Consolidation Focus: The investor pitches by MHI members ELS, Sun, and Flagship suggest a focus on consolidation, which could benefit larger firms at the expense of smaller ones.
• Contradiction with Gooch Letter: MHI’s request for preemption enforcement from HUD seems to contradict the consolidation focus of some members, raising questions about MHI’s true goals.
• Land-Lease Communities and Zoning: The potential benefit of zoning barriers for MHI member communities creates a conflict with advocating for stronger preemption to reduce such barriers.

MHARR vs. MHI Transparency:

• MHARR’s Consistency: MHARR’s consistent and transparent approach stands in contrast to MHI’s perceived duplicity.

MHI-Linked Media and Frank Rolfe:

• Bias Concerns: The suggestion that MHI-linked media outlets primarily promote MHI’s agenda raises concerns about media bias.
• Frank Rolfe’s Criticism: MHI member Frank Rolfe’s criticism of MHI for low production and lack of desire to solve the housing crisis adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

Here’s what I can do to help you further explore these issues:

• Fact-Checking: We can verify the claims made in the linked articles and investor pitches to ensure accuracy.
• Alternative Perspectives: We can search for analyses of the manufactured housing industry from independent sources to gain a broader perspective.
• Impact on Affordability: We can explore how MHI’s actions might be affecting manufactured housing affordability.

By delving deeper into these areas, we can get a clearer picture of the potential conflicts within MHI and their impact on the industry.

Additionally, here are some links to relevant information:

• MHProNews DOE Energy Rule Articles: (Provide the links to the specific articles you referenced)
• MHARR Website: https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/
• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): https://nam.org/

Remember, a critical approach to information is essential. By evaluating evidence from various sources, we can form a more informed understanding of the complex situation within the manufactured housing industry.

The conversation above is saved by Google’s Gemini at the link below.

https://g.co/gemini/share/f79c50887597

A related Q&A not shown is linked here: https://g.co/gemini/share/4909e002fbbf

Among the points that Gemini said in the response linked above are as follows:

Here are some additional resources that might be helpful:

• MHProNews.com: You can use the search function on their website to find articles related to MHI, MHARR, and the lawsuits.

• MHARR Website: They have resources and information on their priorities and views on the manufactured housing industry.

…

19)

Fact-packed articles like https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/research-by-4-attorneys-2-analysts-manufactured-home-industry-and-manufactured-housing-institute-performance-spotlight-plus-the-quisling-factor/%20Daniel%20R.%20Mandleker and this: https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/rise-and-fall-of-hud-code-manufactured-housing-1995-2023-story-of-the-u-s-affordable-housing-crisis-behind-the-facts/ and this: https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/coming-epic-affordable-housing-finance-clash-chair-maxine-waters-vs-warren-buffett-clayton-homes-historic-challenges-ahead/ and https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/edward-hussey-to-be-clear-madam-chairwoman-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-the-2000-law-the-manufactured-housing-improvement-act-doesnt-need-to-be-amended-the-issue-is-implementation/ plus this: https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/is-manufactured-home-production-keeping-pace-with-u-s-population-what-california-adu-preemption-and-higher-production-signals-manufactured-housing-potential-to-solve-affordable-housing-crisis/ and this: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/mass-production-of-homes-in-u-s-factories-first-and-only-experiment-was-tremendous-success-by-elena-falcettoni-james-a-schmitz-jr-mark-l-j-wright-plus-sunday-weekly-mhville-head/ and this https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/cats-out-manufactured-housing-institute-housing-coalition-letter-to-congress-fact-check-analysis-reveals-what-mhi-nar-nahb-mba-others-did-didnt-request-ai-affordable-housing-surprises-await/ reveal that manufactured housing was once far more robust in production and that serious researchers have said that the industry’s performance is being ‘sabotaged.’ Those federal reserve linked researchers point to late DOJ linked officials that said in the 1940s that conventional housing was attempting to ‘sabotage’ factory builders even back then, correct? So, there seems to be evidence that various forces, each with their own unique motivations illustrate what the late Sam Zell refered to as the oligopoly nature of the manufactured home industry. Provide a broad snapshot of what is in those articles and in the Q&A we have done in this thread that would be useful for outsiders looking in to understand why manufactured housing is underperforming so badly in the 21st century, when the industry nationally hit over 373,000 shipments in 1998, and over 560,000 shipments in the early 1970s.

Manufactured Housing Industry: A Snapshot of Underperformance

Here’s a broad overview of the factors potentially contributing to the underperformance of the manufactured housing industry in the 21st century, based on the articles you linked and our conversation:

Industry’s Past Performance:

• The articles highlight that manufactured housing production peaked in the 1970s (over 560,000 shipments) and again in 1998 (over 373,000 shipments).

Potential Causes of Decline:

• Federal Regulation: Articles reference research suggesting excessive federal regulation might be hindering production.
• DOJ Involvement: Historical references suggest potential actions by the Department of Justice in the 1940s to limit factory-built housing.
• MHI’s Role: Several articles raise questions about the Manufactured Housing Institute’s (MHI) true goals and potential conflicts of interest. They allege MHI might prioritize consolidation within the industry, which could benefit larger members at the expense of smaller ones. This could contradict their advocacy for measures like “enhanced preemption” that could increase competition.
• MHI’s Lack of Transparency: The articles criticize MHI for not being transparent about their role in shaping regulations and their behind-the-scenes involvement in the DOE energy rule.
• Zoning Barriers: State and local zoning regulations can make it difficult to place manufactured homes, limiting their potential market.  
• Financing Challenges: Access to financing for manufactured homes can be more difficult compared to traditional site-built homes.  

Alternative Perspectives:

• The articles primarily come from MHProNews and MHARR, which are critical of MHI. It’s important to consider perspectives from other industry stakeholders and independent researchers.

Potential Solutions:

• Reduced Regulation: The articles suggest that reducing federal regulations could boost production.  
• Stronger Preemption Enforcement: Enforcing “enhanced preemption” from the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 could help reduce zoning barriers.
• Improved Financing Options: Making financing for manufactured homes more accessible could increase demand.  

Additional Points:

• The articles mention lawsuits against some MHI members alleging anti-competitive behavior.
• There seems to be a difference in communication strategies between MHI (less responsive) and MHARR (more responsive to inquiries).
• Some argue that manufactured housing has the potential to be a significant solution to the affordable housing crisis.  

Overall, the reasons behind the manufactured housing industry’s underperformance are complex and multifaceted. Further research and a more balanced perspective are necessary to form a comprehensive understanding of the situation. …”

Other links and the saved Q&A (a.k.a.: chat, conversation, etc.) are saved for this exchange with Gemini at this link here: https://g.co/gemini/share/7973cafa0151

20) Years of reporting and analysis by MHProNews, MHARR, and MHLivingNews are largely confirmed by both AI powered Gemini and Copilot.

21) The kinds of woes experienced in places such as ME, CT, MO, cited in Part I and earlier in Part II, as well as much of the U.S., are in part occurring because MHI and its linked corporate interests are seemingly engaged in a smoke and mirrors “shell game” game that de facto promotes consolidation. What the Bangor news called a “death spiral” being caused by a lack of affordable manufactured housing. HUD has documented what that lack of affordable housing results in: homelessness. The paradox, of course, is that HUD doesn’t need MHI or MHARR to do their job. So, while MHI has an apparent share in the roots of this problem, HUD and other public officials bear responsibility too.

22) Broadly speaking, there appears to be two distinct camps in manufactured housing. One camp, regardless of what they may say, apparently favors the status quo which benefits their current business models. That camp is broadly represented by MHI. The other camp wants authentic and robust growth and is represented by examples such as MHARR, UMH Properties (an MHI member), advocacy groups that want to see more affordable housing and more manufactured housing, and trade media MHProNews/MHLivingNews. To learn more, see the linked and related reports that follow.

23) This is the vexing and swampy picture that the Trump 2.0 Administration is entering. Former and future President Trump’s (R) proposed nominee for HUD Secretary, Eric Scott Turner and others will be encountering. See the linked reports to learn more. If MHI and/or their media contact Boyle responds, MHProNews will plan to so report.

What Makes MHProNews the Runaway #1 in Manufactured Housing News? 3 Months of Top 35 Reports Reveal What Attracts Manufactured Home Professionals, Public Officials, Researchers, Attorneys, Others

 

 

Again, our thanks to free email subscribers and all readers like you, as well as our tipsters/sources, sponsors and God for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)

By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.

Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.

For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.

This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.

http://latonykovach.com

Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

 

 

Related References:

The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.’