The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has issued a press release calling for intense scrutiny of the Fiscal Year 2012 HUD manufactured housing budget. The new budget request asks for $7 million in additional funds, as well as an increase from $39 to $60 in the fee paid from manufacturers for each section built, to fund the program. MHARR says despite the 87 percent decrease in industry production since 2007, the HUD budget for manufactured housing increased 50 percent, and these funds have not been used according to mandates of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. Instead, MHARR claims the funds have been used to increase costly regulations to manufacturers and consumers, and to hire more staff to carry out these new regulations. MHARR contends the ongoing misuse of appropriated funds needs to be thoroughly scrutinized by Congress before approving the HUD budget.
