It’s time to rethink the negative stereotypes and acknowledge the key role mobile home parks can play in solving the affordable housing crisis.

Stereotypes about manufactured housing are stifling a robust source of affordable housing. This is what Zachary Lamb, Jason Spicer, and Linda Shi argue in The Conversation, pointing out that “many people, including urban planners and affordable housing researchers, see manufactured housing parks as problems” rather than one solution to the housing crisis.
The authors outline and debunk four major stereotypes about mobile homes:
- “Manufactured housing is shoddy:” In fact, manufactured homes have to meet federal safety standards, and “Many quality problems associated with manufactured housing arise from home installation, park maintenance and infrastructure issues.”
- Manufactured housing is exploitative: While land leases can put residents at the mercy of landlords, as we have covered before, Resident Owned Communities offer a model that puts ownership and control in the hands of the people who live in the parks.
- Lack of density: The density of mobile home parks is often higher than surrounding neighborhoods, and 61 percent of manufactured housing is located in urban areas.
- Mobile home parks are isolated: While this is in some cases true, the authors point out that “this pattern applies to most U.S. residential neighborhoods built since World War II, including gated communities and cul-de-sacs,” and mobile home parks are often further isolated by local zoning regulations.
The article outlines the real obstacles to manufactured housing: an eagerness on the part of local officials to convert the land to “better” uses, the purchase of mobile home parks by investors, climate change and extreme weather, and aging infrastructure.
Some states are implementing solutions to make manufactured housing communities more sustainable, resilient, and affordable. At the federal level, “The Biden administration’s 2022 housing plan includes extensive support for manufactured housing parks.” The authors suggest coupling current efforts with legislation that expands tenant protections and supports opportunities for resident-owned and cooperative models to support more stable and resilient communities.
FULL STORY: Debunking stereotypes about mobile homes could make them a new face of affordable housing

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

EV Chargers Now Outnumber Gas Pumps by Nearly 50% in California
Fast chargers still lag behind amidst rapid growth.

Affordable Housing Renovations Halt Mid-Air Amidst DOGE Clawbacks
HUD may rescind over a billion dollars earmarked for green building upgrades.

Has Anyone at USDOT Read Donald Shoup?
USDOT employees, who are required to go back to the office, will receive free parking at the agency’s D.C. offices — flying in the face of a growing research body that calls for pricing parking at its real value.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport