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CU Boulder's Community Engagement, Design and Research Center (CEDaR) recently unveiled a website providing essential information that supports residents of Colorado mobile/manufactured home (MH) parks, including information useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. Named the , the website offers resources for MH residents and others active in discussions about Colorado's MH policies and design. CEDaR and the Colorado Coalition of Manufactured Home Owners (CoCoMHO) developed this site to address legal, organizational, political and ownership issues that affect the stability of MH communities–typically neighborhoods populated by factory-built homes placed in close proximity on rented lots–and support an inclusive discussion focusing on residents about the future of manufactured housing in the state.  

The website, developed by Lauren Oertel, CEDaR research assistant, Sean Pike, CEDaR intern, Sara Tabatabaie, CEDaR research associate, and Michael Peirce, from the CoCoMHo, fills a need in the MH community, said Brian Muller, CEDaR director and associate professor. Manufactured home parks are the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the country and are home to a large percentage of low-income families, immigrants, fixed-income seniors and single parents. It's crucial that Colorado’s MH park residents have timely, reliable news and information about policy changes occuring in the state and opportunities for revitalization and design of MH communities, he said.

"Evictions, unexpected rent increases, poor physical conditions and inadequate services threaten the mental and physical health of residents, and contribute to ongoing housing insecurity during the best of times," he said. "Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, these issues have become exacerbated due to high rates of unemployment and missed rent payments; high rates of exposure at home due to small living spaces, sometimes with multiple generations living together; and high rates of exposure at work due to the nature of low-income work, such as working in meat-packing plants or nursing homes," he said. 

The website helps CEDaR disseminate information about MH policy initiatives, program rules, model legislation, case studies and community opportunities, as well as points to legal information and supports that can help during the pandemic. This information is made available in both Spanish and English when possible. 

CoCoMHO was formed in 2017 by MH park residents in response to abuses by landlords of MH parks. The work of CoCoMHO and other organizations to support these residents culminated in the Mobile Home Park Act Oversight bill, which passed during the 2019 legislative session.

Funding from the Colorado Health Foundation has allowed CEDaR and CoCoMHO to begin developing a network of community leaders in key regions of the state and to establish a training and communication framework to identify leaders to engage in policy discussion. CEDaR and CoCoMHO also hold yearly conferences attended by policymakers, residents and advocates from around the state.