Writing in idahostatesman, Jerry Brady, a business man and member of Compassionate Boise, having once “snobbishly dismissed” manufactured and modular homes as flimsy and unworthy, now realizes with a shortage of some 10,000 affordable homes in south and south-central Idaho, says, “I can’t do that any longer. If you dream as I do of home ownership for Idahoans, many of whom spend as much as half their income on shelter, we must consider building many units in one place at a low cost.” MHProNews understands these homes cannot be built on the course we are on in the housing market.

He says there were once 14 off-site home builders in south and south-central Idaho, but that number has been reduced to five or six, including Champion, Fleetwood and Nashua. Three of the modular builders are producing workforce housing in the oil patch, but with the uncertainty in the oil trade, Brady suggests more companies should look homeward for more local opportunities.

As an example, he notes Guerdon Modular Buildings of Boise supplied the modules comprising the 102-unit apartment complex for the Skid Row Housing Trust Star Apartments in Los Angeles. The 350 sq ft apartments are for housing the neediest citizens of LA.

While he does not offer any financing solutions for would-be homeowners, Brady states there are 10,000 homeowners nationwide who own their own communities as cooperatives, including seven co-ops in neighboring Montana. Additionally, the Urban Land Institute reports there are 16 private national housing funds earning a decent return in the affordable housing space. ##

(Photo credit:idahostatesman-Guerdon Modular Buildings siting modules for the Star Apartments for homeless in Los Angeles)

Article submitted by Matthew J Silver to Daily Business News-MHProNews.