The Manufactured Home Community Coalition of Virginia is a statewide coalition of housing providers, legal aid attorneys, service organizations, and community advocates working to empower residents of mobile home parks.
Mission
To support communities of low income families living in manufactured home parks by working to ensure access to legal, financial, and material resources and a favorable policy environment.
Vision
That manufactured home communities offer quality and affordable housing that is understood to be a vital component of the housing spectrum in Virginia. The individuals and families that live in these communities are knowledgeable, supported, and participate in the management and preservation of thriving neighborhoods and communities.
History
In 2015, residents of Rudd’s Trailer Park in Richmond, Virginia faced the threat of mass displacement following a series of unjust code enforcement actions by the city. To protect these families, many of whom were Latino, a coalition of local advocacy groups and individuals banded together and preempted the condemnations with a fair housing suit in federal court.
During this time, the new “mobile home park coalition” quickly discovered that many other communities needed help to proactively avoid similar crises. Advocates began discussing ways to determine the full scope of mobile home park needs, as well as optimal strategies for ensuring residential stability in parks.
With help from local donors, the coalition facilitated an existing conditions study for more than 50 mobile home parks across the Richmond region in 2016. The study used Census data and on-the-ground research to reveal that our negative stereotypes about these communities are unfounded. While many parks do need significant housing and infrastructure upgrades, many others are high-quality, stable neighborhoods.
To promote these findings, educate stakeholders, and elevate the discourse around mobile home parks, the coalition sponsored a regional symposium on the future of this unique housing tenure in Virginia. The event featured resident panels and presentations from national manufactured housing experts.
Recognizing the need for an official standalone organization to continue this work — because this part of the housing continuum is not addressed by other housing networks — the coalition began to meet formally in early 2017 as MHCCV. Since then, MHCCV has obtained 501(c)3 status, held another statewide conference, provided technical assistance to local governments and providers, and developed better policy solutions to bring greater affordability and security to residents.