MHARR Admonishes HUD Secretary for Omitting Manufactured Housing From List of Agency Accomplishments
Washington, D.C., May 20, 2021 – The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) in a May 13, 2021 communication to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge see, Attachment 1, has admonished the Department and its leadership under the Biden Administration for failing to include or mention the advancement of inherently affordable, non-subsidized manufactured housing among various activities HUD is undertaking to address “urgent housing needs” and establish “the foundations to tackle longer-term housing challenges.”
Specifically, in a May 6, 2021 News Release titled “Fact Sheet: HUD at 100 Days,” (see, Attachment 2) the Department sets out what it considers to be “key accomplishments” thus far under the Biden Administration, as well as goals and objectives relating to both housing and broader community development, including “affordable housing.” Nowhere, though, does the Fact Sheet, include, address, or even mention the inherently affordable, non-subsidized manufactured homes that HUD itself regulates. Thus, while the so-called “Fact Sheet” lauds and details more than $31 billion in subsidies and other expenditures of federal taxpayer funds to supposedly promote “affordable housing,” it ignores – and would indicate that HUD as an agency is ignoring – the inherently affordable manufactured housing that it is responsible for not only regulating, but also advancing in accordance with the purposes and congressional objectives of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000.
As a result, MHARR’s communication calls on Secretary Fudge to take steps now to address and rectify the four major barriers (i.e., full program reform in accordance with the 2000 law; elimination of discriminatory and exclusionary zoning; revitalization of the Federal Housing Administration’s Title I manufactured housing program; and full implementation of the Duty to Serve) that continue to impede the evolution and growth of the industry, as well as the fulfillment of its enormous potential to meet and satisfy the nation’s growing need for affordable homeownership. By resolving these issues, Secretary Fudge and the Biden Administration would not only help provide affordable housing and homeownership for millions of lower and moderate-income American families, but also preserve billions of dollars in funding that could be used for other efforts.
In Washington, D.C., MHARR President and CEO, Mark Weiss, stated: “Manufactured housing is the embodiment of the type of affordable homeownership that the Biden Administration has indicated it wants to make available on an equitable basis for all Americans. By its very nature, manufactured housing is a great ‘equalizer,’ that is available and accessible to nearly every American regardless of income, race, class, creed, or any other factor. As such, and in accordance with existing federal law, the Biden Administration – and especially HUD – should be doing everything within their power to ensure that inherently affordable, non-subsidized, federally-regulated manufactured housing is fully available as a viable homeownership option for all Americans, without any extraneous, baseless restraints.” Weiss continued, “On behalf of the entire industry, but most importantly, its smaller, independent businesses, we look forward to working with Secretary Fudge and the Biden Administration in order to make this a reality.”
The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform is a Washington, D.C.-based national trade association representing the views and interests of independent producers of federally-regulated manufactured housing.
Washington, D.C., May 20, 2021 – The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) in a May 13, 2021 communication to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge see, Attachment 1, has admonished the Department and its leadership under the Biden Administration for failing to include or mention the advancement of inherently affordable, non-subsidized manufactured housing among various activities HUD is undertaking to address “urgent housing needs” and establish “the foundations to tackle longer-term housing challenges.”
Specifically, in a May 6, 2021 News Release titled “Fact Sheet: HUD at 100 Days,” (see, Attachment 2) the Department sets out what it considers to be “key accomplishments” thus far under the Biden Administration, as well as goals and objectives relating to both housing and broader community development, including “affordable housing.” Nowhere, though, does the Fact Sheet, include, address, or even mention the inherently affordable, non-subsidized manufactured homes that HUD itself regulates. Thus, while the so-called “Fact Sheet” lauds and details more than $31 billion in subsidies and other expenditures of federal taxpayer funds to supposedly promote “affordable housing,” it ignores – and would indicate that HUD as an agency is ignoring – the inherently affordable manufactured housing that it is responsible for not only regulating, but also advancing in accordance with the purposes and congressional objectives of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000.
As a result, MHARR’s communication calls on Secretary Fudge to take steps now to address and rectify the four major barriers (i.e., full program reform in accordance with the 2000 law; elimination of discriminatory and exclusionary zoning; revitalization of the Federal Housing Administration’s Title I manufactured housing program; and full implementation of the Duty to Serve) that continue to impede the evolution and growth of the industry, as well as the fulfillment of its enormous potential to meet and satisfy the nation’s growing need for affordable homeownership. By resolving these issues, Secretary Fudge and the Biden Administration would not only help provide affordable housing and homeownership for millions of lower and moderate-income American families, but also preserve billions of dollars in funding that could be used for other efforts.
In Washington, D.C., MHARR President and CEO, Mark Weiss, stated: “Manufactured housing is the embodiment of the type of affordable homeownership that the Biden Administration has indicated it wants to make available on an equitable basis for all Americans. By its very nature, manufactured housing is a great ‘equalizer,’ that is available and accessible to nearly every American regardless of income, race, class, creed, or any other factor. As such, and in accordance with existing federal law, the Biden Administration – and especially HUD – should be doing everything within their power to ensure that inherently affordable, non-subsidized, federally-regulated manufactured housing is fully available as a viable homeownership option for all Americans, without any extraneous, baseless restraints.” Weiss continued, “On behalf of the entire industry, but most importantly, its smaller, independent businesses, we look forward to working with Secretary Fudge and the Biden Administration in order to make this a reality.”
The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform is a Washington, D.C.-based national trade association representing the views and interests of independent producers of federally-regulated manufactured housing.
