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 290 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: 295
Member Households Served: 20,991
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: Royal Crest Residents Association, West Wareham, Mass. – purchased July 28, 2022
ROCs financed by ROC USA Capital: 97 ($351 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
Rocky Mountain PBS: How life — and rent — improved when residents took ownership of a Longmont mobile home park
LONGMONT, Colo. — Donde cabe uno, caben dos. The Spanish version of the saying, “If I eat, we all eat,” takes on a very real meaning at the LMP Longmont mobile home park. This is the kind of place
The New York Times: Investors Are Buying Mobile Home Parks. Residents Are Paying a Price
GOLDEN, Colo. — When Sarah Clement moved to the Golden Hills mobile home park two years ago, she felt like she had won the lottery. After years of squeezing into one-bedroom apartments with her, her 7-year-old son finally
Flathead Beacon: Solving the Housing Crisis
COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. – Last October, 28-year-old Devynn Fetter came home to her single-wide trailer in Columbia Falls to find a pamphlet on her door that said the owners of the manufactured-home park were selling and they were
No landlord: Mobile home community finds stability in self-government
DURANGO, COLO. – One sunny, cold morning last January, John Egan joined fellow mobile home park residents on a neighbor’s front porch. They needed to organize. But how?
Manufactured Housing Industry News
The Conversation: Debunking stereotypes about mobile homes could make them a new face of affordable housing
When you hear the words “trailer park” or “mobile home park,” what comes to mind? Crime? Poverty? Vulnerability to natural disasters? These negative images reflect the stigma, reinforced by popular culture, that many U.S. residents assign to manufactured
Rocky Mountain PBS: Residents in Golden deal with the aftermath of a private company buying their mobile home park
GOLDEN, Colo. — On any given day, Ken Erwin is looking for odd jobs for his neighbors to do. He’s trying to help them make some money to pay for their increasing rent. Erwin owns a home in Golden
Rocky Mountain PBS: Colorado’s mobile home parks are becoming a lucrative business, but not for residents
DENVER — For decades, mobile homes have been a sweet spot in home ownership. They provide an opportunity to own a home at much lower prices than traditional single-family homes. The problem for some homeowners has become the
Washington Post: ‘We’re all afraid’: Massive rent increases hit mobile homes
Park rents are doubling or tripling, as high demand, low inventory and a rise in corporate owners take a toll on one of the nation’s biggest sources of affordable housing.
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.
