Are you developing a story about a recent resident purchase, trends, challenges or solutions related to the manufactured housing industry? Or researching a speech, white paper or similar project? Our expert staff and Network of affiliates provide technical assistance to more than 300 resident owned communities nationwide, making ROC USA® the national leader in resident ownership. Here, we offer quick facts about ROC USA, ROC USA® Capital, a CDFI lending only to resident groups in manufactured home communities, a glossary of industry terms, media contacts, sources to interview, stories and visuals ready to share, and articles about ROCs and the manufactured housing industry.
For all media inquiries
email Mike Bullard or call (603) 513-2827.
On the go? Download our one-page media fact sheet.
ABOUT ROC USA
ROC USA Quick Facts
Founded: May 2008 by three non-profits: New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, Prosperity Now, and Capital Impact Partners with sponsorship from NeighborWorks® America.
Mission: To make quality resident ownership viable nationwide and to expand economic opportunities for homeowners in manufactured (mobile) home communities.
ROC USA® Capital: ROC USA Capital is a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). ROC USA Capital only lends to resident-owned communities that work with a Certified Technical Assistance Provider in ROC USA Network. These loans can be for community purchases, refinances, or community renovation projects, as well as a forgivable pre-development loan for communities considering resident ownership.
ROC USA® Network: ROC USA Network is a group of regional non-profit affiliates that provide coaching and expertise to resident groups through the entire community purchase process and beyond. These technical assistance providers help resident groups assess a community purchase opportunity, work through the purchase, and successfully manage the resident-owned community for years to come.
Communities Converted to Resident Ownership: 309
Member Households Served: 21,788
Largest ROC: 430 homes, Halifax Mobile Home Estates Association, Halifax, Massachusetts
First ROC: Meredith Center Cooperative, Meredith, N.H. – purchased June 1, 1984
Newest ROC: Pioneer Park Residents Community, Lafayette, Ore. – purchased May 23, 2023
ROCs financed by ROC USA Capital: 117 ($387.4 million)
Resident Ownership Basics
In a resident-owned community, homeowners form a non-profit business called a cooperative. Each household is a Member of the cooperative, which owns the land and manages the business that is the community. Members continue to own their own homes individually and an equal share of the land beneath the entire neighborhood.
In resident-owned communities:
- The cooperative purchases the community and operates it in a limited-equity structure.
- The Members elect a Board of Directors to run the community.
- Decisions are made democratically – each household has one vote.
- Profits from monthly site fees are reinvested into the community.
Watch this 77-second video that helps explain resident ownership.
Preferred Terminology
Common terms like trailer park, trailers, parks and mobile homes are outdated and stigmatic for the people who live there. Instead, please use the following terms:
- Manufactured home community
- Manufactured homes (or simply ‘homes’)
- Homeowners
Instead of using the term rent, use monthly site fee, especially when referring to Resident Owned Communities.
MEDIA coverage OF RESIDENT OWNED COMMUNITIES
Golden Hills Community Cooperative homeowners successfully buy park from out-of-state investors
GOLDEN, Colo. — When Contact Denver7 last checked in with the residents at the Golden Hills Mobile Home Park, they were taking matters into their own hands and buying back the park from an out-of-state company.
Investors are buying mobile home parks. Residents and governments are pushing back.
In 2021, a California-based investor group purchased Golden Hill Mobile Home Park in Golden, Colorado, a small city just outside Denver in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Morning Star Community in Kalispell, Mont., receives $750K
A resident-owned manufactured home community seeking to hook into Kalispell’s water and sewer system has received a boost from the Montana Coal Endowment Program. The city of Kalispell received $750,000 from the state-funded program on behalf of the
The battle to keep Colorado’s mobile home parks in local hands
Peter Frombgen tries not to take this for granted. Every morning for 20 years, the former ski bum and bike mechanic peers out the window of his mobile home tucked alongside Lincoln Avenue, basking in a full view
Manufactured Housing Industry News
Polis Administration, DOLA announce funding for Mobile Home Park Resident Empowerment Program
Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) announced that DOLA’s Division of Housing (DOH), Office of Housing Finance and Sustainability (OHFS) granted more than $28 million to three loan program administrators for the Mobile Home Park
CT Senate passes bill to allow residents to buy their communities
After about three hours of debate, the Connecticut State Senate passed a bill that aims to offer a remedy to mobile home park residents, who face rising rents. It requires that the mobile home park owner notify residents
Seven Days: Upward Mobility: With Housing in Short Supply, Mobile Home Parks Are Having a Moment. For Good Reasons, It Turns Out.
Lots at Williston Woods mobile home park are a coveted prize. Realtors contact homeowners directly to ask if they’re thinking of selling, and people routinely drive through the secluded hilltop community hoping to spot homes for sale. Spacious double-wide
Vice News: America’s Last Affordable Housing is Under Threat
Across the US, corporate buyers are purchasing mobile home parks and driving up rents for those on the brink of being homeless. VICE News went to Fresno, California, where one such company is attempting to buy a park
OUR EXPERTS
The ROC USA Staff and members of the Board of Directors are experts and innovators in the manufactured housing space. If you are interested in interviewing someone listed below, please contact Mike Bullard.
Paul Bradley
President
Paul Bradley founded ROC USA in 2008 with three LLC Members, a national sponsor, and nine Network affiliates. Paul has more than 30 years of experience in community organizing, training, project management and financing in the resident-owned community market niche.
Mary O'Hara
Executive Vice President, ROC Movement
Mary O’Hara supports ROC USA’s strategic priority to ensure our historic work in community-driven change in neighborhoods is reflected (and magnified) in statewide and national change efforts. Mary supports co-op leaders and Members who are driving the national ROC movement through outreach and education, peer networking, and public policy.
Michael Sloss
Managing Director,
ROC USA® Capital
Michael Sloss is responsible for directing all of ROC USA® Capital’s key business functions, including: capitalization, loan origination and closing, loan servicing and portfolio management. Michael has presided over ROC USA Capital since 2008 and is responsible for all lending, capital raising and portfolio management activities.
BRAND KIT
ROC USA logos are available for download as jpegs. If you would like a different version, please contact Mike Bullard.
PHOTOS
ROC USA is pleased to offer this collection of stock photos for your use. Please credit ROC USA when using. Information about each photo is available in greater detail by hovering over the photo.
