Our primary goal is to maintain existing affordable housing and to limit disruptions caused by rapid rent increases.
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RUMOR HAS IT!Members of the public in Huntington Beach (HB) have heard a rumor that the city’s Mobile Home Advisory Board (MHAB) may not be long for this world. The MHAB was formed years ago by the City Council to (a) ensure the quality of life in mobile home (MH) parks and to review matters concerning mobile home parks in the City of Huntington Beach through healthy communication with park owners, manufactured home owners and the City Council; and (b) to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters concerning the mobile home community. What has the MHAB done for residents? Mobile homeowners in HB represent nearly 3000 residents, primarily seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, and low-and moderate-income families of all ages. Over the years the MHAB has presented information to the public on new legislation affecting MHs, homeowners’ insurance, permits and inspections, surviving a disaster, buying one’s own MH park, the Mobilehome Residency Law, and many other topics. How has the MHAB helped residents? The MHAB has also been the agency MH residents approach to voice their concerns about unscrupulous park owners, unfair city ordinances, and their needs for more assistance. MHAB has helped get a lease extended for the city-owned MH park, provided funds for some low-income families to get rental assistance, and helped residents bring their homes up to code. It is the only place where MH residents and park owners can voice their concerns and be on the public record. How has the City Council failed us? In the past year the MHAB members recommended to the City Council that it approve (1) removal of MHs from the city’s ban on rent control under Section 803 of the City Charter and (2) develop a city-wide MH market study to better understand this constituency. Both recommendations, approved and recommended by the MHAB were turned down by the City Council. Public records show Thousands of Dollars in contributions by MH park owners and their lobbyists to the four new City Council members! HB City Council has now appointed a group of three members to determine which Committees, Boards, and Commissions will be erased from our local city structure. Please sign our electronic letter to alert the HB City Council and the MHAB and to express your dissatisfaction with any potential disbanding of the MHAB. Link To Our Electronic Letter “Higher Rents — More Tents”This was the rallying cry of members of the Mobile Home Resident Coalition (MHRC) who gathered outside of Huntington Beach City Hall on May 2. The mobile homeowners had placed their hope and efforts into AB1035, the Mobile Home Affordability Act, a statewide bill that places a rent cap on what park owners can charge mobile homeowners for space rent, But the legislation hit a roadblock in April when Buffy Wicks, Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee shelved the bill for a year in light of a lawsuit that could potentially threaten the bill’s implementation. With Wicks’ decision, and without any rent stabilization ordinance in the city, coalition members gathered to call attention to the city council’s proposed opposition to AB1035 and their unwillingness to do anything to assist the 7000 constituents – mainly seniors, veterans and lower income families — many of whom now face continued skyrocketing rents and a very real risk of homelessness. Delayed, Not Defeated!Mobile home owners have three bills we’ve been supporting:
All three bills have suffered at the hands of legislators. Click here for more details. WE CANNOT GIVE UP! |
A message from the Presidents!Good day to all and thank you to all who have supported our MHRC efforts. As you know, it has been a roller coaster ride of a year pushing AB 1035 and striving for a rent cap in the state of California. We, at the MHRC have been working tirelessly to fight for all manufactured homeowners to gain protection against predatory mobile park owners. It has not been an easy road; however it is only making us stronger and more motivated for the fight and to work toward our mission: “Our mission is to maintain existing affordable housing and to limit disruptions caused by rapid rent increases” We have sent over 1100 letters to the Assembly members on your behalf to get AB1035 signed into law and we will continue our campaign into the new year. We have had zoom and in person meetings with politicians who we believe may be allies in our fight to keep mobile homes affordable for all. We have traveled to Sacramento to visit politicians and their aides in person to give them a face to our economic plight. We have done all this and more with only volunteers!! We travel to parks in Orange County and LA county to educate park residents on their rights, how to let their voice be heard regarding spiking rents, understand the process on how an Assembly Bill works and many other topics. Consider holding an Open Meeting in your park so we can update your neighbors. All of this has a cost associated with it. We work off a very lean budget and often pay out of pocket because we know THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK! We are asking for donations to offset some of these costs. For as little as $5, we can get so much done. From copies, website management, meeting materials and gas in our cars (yes we do carpool), your donations keep us going to fight the fight for YOU!!! Think about donating an hour or two a week. We desperately need research volunteers. We are a 503 c3/c4 charity. Follow this link to donate now. Thank you so much in advance for keeping our organization moving forward!! Sharon Crabill and Teri Williams-Co Presidents MHRC of HB FACTS TO CONSIDER
A Mobile Home (MH) park owner owns the land, collects rents, and is responsible for the upkeep of the common areas with the park and respecting resident rights. A Mobile Home (MH) resident owner acquires their home for either cash or with the help of a mortgage loan. The owner is 100% responsible for space rent, utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance, upkeep and any improvements both inside and outside the home. MH’s are extremely costly to move and can be damaged easily in a move. Finding a nearby location in which to move the MH is nearly impossible as well. Huntington Beach Mobile Home Park HistoryHuntington Beach has 17 Mobile Home (MH) Parks (9 are senior parks) with 2,865 spaces = approx. 7,000 people, most of whom are registered voters. All of the parks are potentially at risk due to conglomerate buyouts and predatory practices. In the last 10 years, 8 out of 17 mobile home parks in Huntington Beach have been purchased by investment firms who immediately raised rents, causing many residents to either sell or abandon their homes, some becoming homeless. In the last few years, the purchase of MH Parks by investment firms have become a national emergency, per U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee testimony of March 31, 2022. Huntington Beach MH residents have asked City Council to adopt the recommendation of its Mobile Home Advisory Board to place a measure on the ballot to amend the City Charter Section 803 to allow a Rent Stabilization Ordinance for MH Parks. Rent Control vs Rent Stabilization OrdinanceMobile home owners are NOT asking for Rent Control. We are asking for a Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) for mobile home park residents only. Rent Control freezes rent. A Rent Stabilization Ordinance allows rents to increase by a specific amount and benefits both the park owner and resident. Request for
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