In reporting on the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) meeting Oct. 23-25, 2012, the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) says the federal manufactured housing program as administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the authority of the MHCC have deteriorated to a new low. The Office of Manufactured Housing Programs is now under the jurisdiction of HUD’s Office of Risk Management and Regulatory Affairs, which implies MH is a greater risk than other types of housing and prolongs the “trailer mentality” image which HUD has failed to dispel, instead of being part of the Office of Single Family Housing where MH could be a pivotal source of affordable housing. MHARR points out the industry as a whole needs to put pressure on HUD to effect change instead of accepting what is handed down, especially when it comes to upholding the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. MHARR also criticizes HUD for failing to act on recommendations proposed by the MHCC, in some cases going back five years. We will run MHARR’s full analysis as a November Featured Article, available by the end of this week on the MHProNews.com home page.

(Image credit: Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Affairs)