On October 13, 2010, MHI attended a stakeholders meeting on the future of federal rental housing policy which featured remarks by Melody Barnes, the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council; Larry Summers, the Director of the White House National Economic Council; and Secretary Donovan, Housing and Urban Development. Congressional policy makers, affordable housing advocates, and leading housing association executives were also among the roughly 100 or so invitees participating in this White House event, including the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI).

It is no secret that government policies historically preference homeownership over renting. However, the recent housing challenges have made a re-examination of rental policy both timely and critical, particularly in the context of a more balanced housing policy. Projections indicate both an increase in the number of renters as a result of the foreclosure crisis in the short-term and an increase in the number of households that are traditionally renters in the long term. The goal of the meeting was to hear new proposals on what the federal government can do to make the rental market a viable choice for American households for whom homeownership is not an option or, just as important, not desired.

Because of the economic and societal role it plays, housing policy will continue to be a critical topic for discussion and action for the 112th Congress and the second half of the Administration’s term. MHI and the manufactured housing industry will continue to be at the center of the debate on this extremely important issue.

For more information, MHI members can contact Thayer Long at tlong@mfghome.org.