Utah mobile home owners are slated to converge at the state Capitol on Tuesday for the third annual Manufactured Homeowners Housing Day on the Hill.
Seen by some as the last stronghold of nonsubsidized affordable housing, mobile home parks have dwindled in numbers as mobile home park land sells to developers for other uses. While those sales have slowed in the economic downturn, low-income advocates say that mobile home owners continue to battle unreasonable rent hikes for park space, harassment and unlawful evictions.
"We believe in building strong and vibrant neighborhoods where homeowners and park owners acknowledge and respect one another's rights," said Steve Anderson, who heads Utah Manufactured Homeowners Action Group. "The smart park owner realizes that a homeowners association that is linked to other associations can be a valuable asset and make their life a lot easier."
For several years, mobile home supporters have lobbied for legislation to protect their rights. This year, they hope to advance two measures:
» Taylorsville Republican Rep. Jim Dunnigan's HB388, that would ensure the right to form homeowner associations;
» West Valley City Democratic Rep. Janice Fisher's HB389, to allow homeowners to appeal excessive rent increases to third-party arbitration -- and have it be binding.
Tuesday's event, sponsored by AARP Utah, Salt Lake Community Action Partnership, Utah Housing Coalition, Utah Manufactured Homeowners Association and Utah Resident Owned Communities, starts at 9 a.m. and ends with a noon news conference in the Capitol rotunda.
For more information, contact Melinda Gurr at Salt Lake Community Action Program, 359-2444 ext. 3138.
