Business Insider and MSN on 12.9.2023 said the following. “Large majorities [of the public] say they support policies that would facilitate more — and denser — housing, according to a Pew Research survey conducted in September and published last week. The survey asked respondents about 10 different pro-housing policies. The most popular included streamlining the permitting process; legalizing apartments in commercial areas and near transit; allowing basements, garages, and attics to be turned into accessory dwelling units; and allowing student housing and affordable homes on property owned by non-profits, including churches. The least popular policy — which got 49% support — involved allowing smaller home lot sizes.”
Manufactured homes were not specifically mentioned in the Business Insider (BI) report, but one or both of our trade publications (i.e. MHProNews.com and/or MHLivingNews.com) plan on exploring the Pew Research firsthand in greater depth in the days ahead. In the meantime, pivoting pack to the Business Insider takeaways via MSN were the following remarks.
* Restrictive zoning has made it illegal to build dense, mixed-use neighborhoods in many places.
* The American public wants policymakers to do something about it, according to new polling.
Notably, support for pro-housing policies also crossed partisan and demographic lines. Majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents supported the eight most popular policies. And majorities of both renters and homeowners supported nine of the 10 policies.
The survey data aligns with the growing popularity of YIMBYism, the pro-building “yes in my backyard” philosophy, which advocates abundant housing to bring down costs. States across the country, including California, Washington, Montana, and Maine, have passed housing policies similar to some of those described in the Pew poll.”
“The poll’s findings come amid rising concerns about homelessness and high housing costs. Two-thirds of Americans say it’s hard to find an affordable home where they live, according to a recent YouGov poll. Homelessness is on the rise and a growing share of Americans are rent-burdened or can’t afford to buy a home.”
Note that MHProNews has periodically examined the connections between the lack of affordable housing and homelessness. See reports like those linked below for more details.
This next quoted remark is rather inane, given that California has some of the worst homelessness in the country. That noted, here is what BI and MSN said.
“California, which is experiencing one of the country’s worst housing crises, has become something of a national model, passing policies ranging from streamlining the building approval process to legalizing housing in church parking lots.”
“Red states are also looking to boost housing construction. Montana recently passed a slew of laws loosening zoning regulations, including to allow multi-family buildings and mixed-use development in commercial areas.”
“About three-quarters of respondents in a June Bipartisan Policy Center/Morning Consult poll said that a lack of affordable housing is a problem, and that insufficient home supply has contributed to higher housing costs.”
As the reader can see, manufactured housing isn’t named in their reporting, but Pew Research has done reports involving manufactured home, including some recent study. As noted, either MHProNews and/or ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com will explore these topics in greater depth in the days ahead.
That said, even based on the popular Business Insider snapshot, these reports beg the question. Where is the recently revised Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) website on the often hotly discussed NIMBY vs. YIMBY topic? Let’s look, because it only takes seconds to do so. Two screen captures performed on 12.9.2023 summarize MHI’s extensive (or not…) coverage of NIMBY and YIMBY.
Note: to expand this image below to a larger or full size, see the instructions
below the graphic below or click the image and follow the prompts.
For an organization whose new website look boast the tag line: “Elevating Housing Innovation; Expanding Attainable Homeownership” it may seem curious how “expanding attainable homeownership” via modern HUD Code manufactured housing has actually reversed in the last year. Meaning, manufactured home sales that MHI claims to champion aren’t expanding. They are declining.
As MHI corporate and staff leaders like Cavco Industries CEO William “Bill” Boor know, the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA) was legislation that the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) and MHI cooperated on about a quarter of a century ago to get enacted into federal law. The MHIA included a provision commonly known as “enhanced preemption.” That “enhanced preemption” authority could be used to overcome zoning barriers (and thus, NIMBYism) in a fashion that might broadly appeal to those who take the YIMBY stance. While on paper, MHI seems to support the broad use of “enhanced preemption,” a curiosity is evident. Those words can’t even be found on MHI’s own website.
To further illustrate the issue, the following question was put to Bing AI on 12.9.2023.
> “MHProNews contacted the Manufactured Housing Institute recently. Can you find any evidence that the Manufactured Housing Institute has begun promoting the enhanced preemption provision of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA)?”
I hope this helps!
Learn more:
Notice that in the question above, Bing AI”s response shows the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), where numerous examples of use of the term “enhanced preemption” are found. Bing AI shows Manufactured Home Living News, where there are dozens upon dozens of uses of the term “enhanced preemption.” Bing AI shows this site, Manufactured Home Pro News, in two of its linked items above. Bing AI’s response also shows a press release that mentions those organizations.
But conspicuously absent from Bing AI’s response is any mention of MHI, nor of MHI linked trade media. After years of outreaches to MHI leaders on a range of topics including federal preemption under the MHIA, why is that still so?
As you ponder that question immediately above, dive into the headlines for the week in review.
Don’t miss the postscript.
With no further adieu, here are the headlines for the week that was, starting on 12.3. 2023 through 12.10.2023.
What’s New on Mobile and Manufactured Home Living News (MHLivingNews).
What’s New and Recent from Washington, D.C. from MHARR
What’s New and Recent on the Masthead on MHProNews
What’s New on the Daily Business News on MHProNews
Saturday 12.9.2023
Friday 12.8.2023
Thursday 12.7.2023
Wednesday 12.6.2023
Tuesday 12.5.2023
Monday 12.4.2023
Sunday 12.3.2023
Postscript
The working plan for the week ahead includes state specific as well as national reports. Because we naturally keep our eye on the lookout for emerging subjects and the unforeseen, so as longtime readers of MHProNews know, plans are subject to change. For the growing numbers of newcomers as well as the many who have faithfully followed MHProNews since our launch over 14 years ago, let’s sum up.
- Manufactured housing ought to be soaring.
- But instead, the industry has just logged its 12th straight month of year-over-year declines in shipments.
- It takes a particular kind of genius to take a rising pro-YIMBY sentiment, and apparently not attempt to tap into it at all. But that is the kind of genius that has arguably for too long been on display in Arlington, VA based MHI.
The MHI board of directors is made up of routinely larger companies, several of which are self-described consolidators of the manufactured home industry. There are also state association executives who are MHI affiliated. Those state execs would have to tell us the last time that they publicly bucked MHI and/or their consolidation focused brands.
In defense of MHI affiliated state execs, some might point to Logan Hanes at the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institue (KMHI). Hanes and KMHI recently pitched to public officials on the option of placing more new HUD Code manufactured homes in that state. But according to a local source deemed reliable, Hanes did not raise the subject of the “enhanced preemption” provision of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act (MHIA) of 2000. Instead of being an exception that proves the rule, Hanes simply demonstrated the rule. Given the opportunity to comment, Hanes acknowledged the inquiry, but declined giving a response.
So, given MHI’s and their trade media surrogates track record on this subject, perhaps Hanes just followed their example?
As MHProNews has periodically noted, Bing AI is useful, but imperfect. This afternoon (i.e.: on 12.9.2023 when this report is being drafted) it took several times to get Bing AI to correctly report on the following topic. Bing AI itself has said in a disclaimer that they are subject to errors. That said, here was the initial inquiry.
> “Who in manufactured housing has spotlighted these topics. Yimby. Nimby. The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 and its enhanced preemption provision. The apparent failure to implement the Roper Report. Search the web and see what you find on these and let me know, thanks.”
The reply was largely correct, but had errors. So, this was the follow up.
> “Bing, you erred on the Roper Report. HUD did NOT commission that report, the Manufactured Housing Institute did. Please double check, and correct that point in your reply.”
Regarding your earlier question about who has spotlighted the topics of YIMBY, NIMBY, and the enhanced preemption provision of the MHIA, I could not find any evidence that MHI has begun promoting the enhanced preemption provision of the MHIA. However, I found several web pages that discuss the topics you mentioned. Here are some of the highlights:
- YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) is a movement that advocates for the construction of new housing in existing neighborhoods . The movement aims to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis in many cities across the United States .
- NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) is a term used to describe people who oppose new development projects in their neighborhoods . NIMBYism can be a significant obstacle to the construction of new affordable housing units .
- The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA) is a federal law that regulates the construction and safety standards of manufactured homes 3. The law includes an enhanced preemption provision that gives the federal government the authority to preempt state and local regulations that conflict with federal standards 3.
I hope this information helps!
Learn more:
Again, largely correct, but Bing AI’s answer still had errors in it. Thus, this follow-up.
> “Bing, you are correct in saying that Manufactured Home Living News mentions YIMBY and NIMBY. But I checked the Manufactured Housing Institute website earlier today for YIMBY, NIMBY, and enhanced preemption. I could find no mention of those using their search tool. Feel free to double check, and then re-write your response on these issues, okay?”
Regarding your earlier question about who has spotlighted the topics of YIMBY, NIMBY, and the enhanced preemption provision of the MHIA, I found several web pages that discuss the topics you mentioned. Here are some of the highlights:
- YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) is a movement that advocates for the construction of new housing in existing neighborhoods 23. The movement aims to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis in many cities across the United States 2.
- NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) is a term used to describe people who oppose new development projects in their neighborhoods 3. NIMBYism can be a significant obstacle to the construction of new affordable housing units 3.
- The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA) is a federal law that regulates the construction and safety standards of manufactured homes 4. The law includes an enhanced preemption provision that gives the federal government the authority to preempt state and local regulations that conflict with federal standards 4.
I hope this information helps!.
Learn more:
> “Bing, you are getting closer, but still made the same mistake in citing as source #4 that the Manufactured Housing Institute has information on enhanced preemption. Please double check, and correct that error. Then, re-write your response accordingly, okay?
Regarding your earlier question about who has spotlighted the topics of YIMBY, NIMBY, and the enhanced preemption provision of the MHIA, I found several web pages that discuss the topics you mentioned. Here are some of the highlights:
- YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) is a movement that advocates for the construction of new housing in existing neighborhoods 34. The movement aims to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis in many cities across the United States 3.
- NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) is a term used to describe people who oppose new development projects in their neighborhoods 4. NIMBYism can be a significant obstacle to the construction of new affordable housing units 4.
- The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA) is a federal law that regulates the construction and safety standards of manufactured homes 1. The law includes an enhanced preemption provision that gives the federal government the authority to preempt state and local regulations that conflict with federal standards 1.
I hope this information helps!.
Learn more:
> “Bing, you are correct in saying that Manufactured home living news mentions YIMBY and NIMBY. But I checked the Manufactured Housing Institute website earlier today for YIMBY, NIMBY, and enhanced preemption. I could find no mention of those using their search tool. Feel free to double check, and then re-writer you response on these issues, okay?”
Regarding your earlier question about who has spotlighted the topics of YIMBY and NIMBY, I found several web pages that discuss the topics you mentioned. Here are some of the highlights:
- YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) is a movement that advocates for the construction of new housing in existing neighborhoods 34. The movement aims to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis in many cities across the United States 3.
- NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) is a term used to describe people who oppose new development projects in their neighborhoods 3. NIMBYism can be a significant obstacle to the construction of new affordable housing units 3.
I hope this information helps!.
Learn more:
Finally! It took patience, perseverance, double checking the sources to see if Bing AI was wrong (or correct), but finally, the above.
MHProNews, MHLivingNews, and MHARR are the consistent sources for years of factually accurate, evidence-based reports that don’t blow smoke in their reader’s/visitors’ eyes.
Day by day, MHProNews and/or MHLivingNews shine the light of accountability on industry firms, nonprofits, public officials, and others as needed. Why? One good reason is this. “There are many kinds of journalism, but at the heart of their constitutional responsibilities, journalists are in the business of monitoring and keeping a check on people and institutions in power.” – American Press Institute.
While we have, can, and do promote the notion of manufactured home industry growth, when that growth is missing, it is NOT the job of good industry trade media to merely be a stenographer for MHI. Nor should authentic media merely be the press agent for MHI’s dominating, and apparently consolidation-focused, brands. Given an opportunity last week to respond to this deep dive report linked here, MHI leaders and their attorneys have once more passed. Fact checks, probes, and analyses help shed light on manufactured housing industry underperformance in the 21st century.
More on the affordable housing crisis, the failure of several manufactured housing industry leaders to properly respond to it and more are ahead. Special insights are in hand regarding a publicly traded Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) member. That topic is a significant set of recent developments. As always, stay tuned to your runaway #1 source for manufactured housing “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © and where for the sound investment in good reading you can get “Intelligence for Your MHLife.” © ###
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.
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.’
