Policy and Advocacy
What is ROC Movement?
Our ROC Movement team is dedicated to serving the needs of all resident homeowners in manufactured home communities nationwide. Together with resident leaders, we’re working to generate a sustainable nationwide movement that helps resident homeowners lead not only their communities, but efforts to achieve solutions that center on their needs and those of their peers.
ROC Movement’s priorities include Member engagement and communications and policy and advocacy work at the local, state and federal levels.
Why does it matter?
Manufactured home communities are a crucial source of affordable housing, particularly in rural areas, representing about 6% of the nation’s housing supply.
All housing costs have risen sharply in recent years, yet manufactured homes remain significantly more affordable than site-built homes.
Ownership of land under their homes is vital for residents to avoid vulnerabilities such as frequent and steep rent increases, infrastructure disinvestment and community closures.
Examples of Policy Wins
Colorado
In 2023, Governor Jared 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 Resident Empowerment Program (MHPREP): Thistle ROC, ROC USA and Impact Development Fund.
New Hampshire
In 2001, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, under the direction of Paul Bradley, ROC USA’s founding President, launched an award-winning home-only finance program that operates in New Hampshire’s co-ops today. NHCLF oversaw the substantial work to secure an unprecedented approval by Fannie Mae to buy home-only loans in New Hampshire’s co-ops.
PRICE
In June 2024, ROC USA applied to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Main Program, seeking $75 million. If awarded, ROC USA intends to sub-grant the funds to several cooperatively owned manufactured home communities to address critical infrastructure needs and to finance the resident purchase of several other communities.
Minnesota
In 2023, the Manufactured Home Community Redevelopment Program, which is housed at the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, received $16 million in funding from the Minnesota State Legislature. Northcountry Cooperative Foundation was instrumental in securing the funding, and more than $10.7 million is slated for critical infrastructure projects at resident owned communities across the state of Minnesota.
You can help. Here’s how.
Your voice can make a difference. Join efforts crucial for expanding resident ownership opportunities in manufactured home communities.
Your generous dollars can help a community gain the security of resident ownership, fund a community improvement project and more.