It’s been a big week for the New England Resident Owned Communities program, with multiple stories about communities in Massachusetts and Vermont hitting the press. Check them out below!
Massachusetts
“On Cape Cod, a band of mobile home owners fight for their park: ‘The vultures want it! But they’re not going to get it.’” Beth Teitell, The Boston Globe, August 14, 2022.
The Pocasset Park Association formed in 2019 and has been fighting ever since to gain resident-ownership of their community. The Boston Globe profiles residents in a front page story about their experience competing with a private equity company who are going to great lengths to acquire the park away from residents. Get the scoop.
“Residents buy their mobile home park for 12 million, beat out company bid.” Alexandra Weliever, Wareham Week, August 3, 2022
Local support of Royal Crest residents’ recent cooperative purchase of their manufactured housing community has been amazing. This article from Wareham Week tells the story of the residents’ struggle to compete with private investors and establish resident-ownership of their community. A true underdog victory! Check it out.
“Wareham residents buy Royal Crest mobile home park, beat out investor.” Zane Razzaq, The Cape Cod Times, August 16, 2022.
Another great article from Cape Cod Times housing reporter, Zane Razzaq sharing Royal Crest Residents Association’s recent success in purchasing their park for resident ownership. Read the article here.
Vermont
In the second of two articles about manufactured housing in Vermont, journalist Fred Thys explores how CDI and state community development agencies have stepped in to help manufactured housing residents take control of their communities. Across the country private investment firms view these communities as cash cows, but through collaboration and state intervention, Vermont is able to make sure that residents can take ownership and preserve affordability and stay in their homes. Read more here.
This article also appeared in The Mountain Times and The Valley News.
Vermont is pouring millions into manufactured homes and mobile home parks
In this article, journalist Fred Thys explores why Vermont is investing so much state funding into manufactured housing as a form of affordable housing for low income residents in the Green Mountain state. Learn more about why so many resident opt for manufactured housing and how the state helps them finance purchases and why many housing advocates want to expand that support. Read more.