Manufactured news and views: House members urged to join the Congressional manufactured housing caucus
The Congressional Manufactured Housing Caucus, chaired by Reps Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Jim Donnelly (D-IN), is an important tool for Members of Congress to collectively voice their support for the manufactured housing industry and homeowners. The Caucus also provides opportunity to educate federal policymakers of the vital role manufactured housing plays in the larger housing market.
On January 26, Reps. Calvert and Donnelly began circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter urging members of the U.S. House of Representatives to support the manufactured housing industry and millions of American families that rely on a manufactured home as quality and affordable housing option and join the Congressional Manufactured Housing Caucus.
The Manufactured Housing Institute(MHI) has issued an action alert urging member organizations and associations to contact their House of Representatives members and specifically request they join The Congressional Manufactured Housing Caucus. The following are excerpts from the complete MHI action alert titled:
“URGE HOUSE MEMBERS TO JOIN THE CONGRESSIONAL HOUSING CAUCUS SUPPORT AN ALL-AMERICAN INDUSTRY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO AMERiCAN FAMILIES”
BACKGROUND: For over 75 years, the manufactured housing industry has provided quality affordable housing to America’s families. Because of their reliability, durability as well as amenities offered, manufactured housing has accounted for more than 20 percent of all new single family homes sold since 1989.
Currently, more than nine million households totaling 19 million people living in manufactured housing. In 2010 alone, manufactured housing accounted for 72 percent of all homes sold under $125,000.
However, over the past decade, the manufactured housing industry has suffered from more than 80 percent decline in the number of new homes sold. A lack of available financing for manufactured homeowners and growing regulatory burdens threaten to further destabilize the already distressed manufactured housing market and limit a critical housing option for many low-and moderate-income families.
ACTION NEEDED: During the 112th Congress, a number of issues of concern to the manufactured housing industry and homeowners will be debated, including: technical corrections and revisions to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; reform of the housing finance system, including the government-sponsored entities; and extension of tax credit and incentive programs to promote energy efficient housing.
MHI members are urged to contact their House members and specifically request they join the Congressional Manufactured Housing Caucus. To join the Caucus, Representatives or their staff members should contact Deena Contreras in the office of Rep. Ken Calvert at deena.contreras@mail.house.gov (202.225.1986) or Alissa Stamm in the office of And and Ione shy at alissa.stamm@mail.house.gov (202.225.3915).
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana
Help is also needed in securing Senators to serve as Co-chairs of the Senate Caucus. MHI members are also urged are also urged to contact their Senators to request they serve as leaders of the Senate Caucus.
Editor’s Note: A list of the 52 House members that have joined the Congressional Manufactured Housing Caucus and a sample letter to fax representatives requesting they join the Congressional Manufactured Housing Caucus is available at: mhi.org Congessional Manufactured Housing Caucus.
