Mobile Home Residents Fight For Rent Cap Provision

(Download Audio)

Many families in the metro area and around Colorado have been struggling to pay rent. But this issue has become particularly acute among low-income families who live in mobile homes. Recently passed legislation brings protections for mobile home park residents, but one of its key provisions was stripped from the final version of House Bill 22–1287 due to a veto threat from Governor Jared Polis. The contentious provision would have protected residents from lot rent hikes by an amount that exceeds the greater of inflation or 3% in any 12-month period. Many housing activists criticized the veto threat, given that the governor has verbally advocated for affordable housing. According to Colorado Newsline, There are about 100,000 mobile homes in Colorado spread across the state.

“… we know that losing housing is the start of a downward spiral that becomes harder and harder to recover from,” says Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry while speaking at the Capitol protest. There are about 100,000 mobile homes in Colorado spread across the state. Even if mobile park residents own the home, the land that sits on is mostly not owned by the homeowner. Recently back in May, Senate Bill 22–160, a bill that would help empower mobile home park residents to convert their land into a resident-owned community. It would also provide the opportunity for residents to buy the land on which the homes sit. That’s according to Rep. Andrew Boesenecker (D-Fort Collins) back in May when the Governor signed the bill. Despite that, many activists say that removing the original provision of the House Bill would still hurt many families who don’t own the land where their homes sit.

Many people expressed frustration and anger toward Polis during last month’s protest. One activist and mobile park resident, Maribel Rodriguez, spoke publicly about how much she’s paying in rent and her experience living in her trailer park in Arvada, CO. “[Translated] I pay more than 50% of my income for my rent.” says Rodriguez, “…when I moved for the first time 12 years ago I paid around 400 [dollars], and today I pay 912 [dollars], and the last few years [the rent] it has increased dramatically. For the past two years, we have had three different rent increases.”

Maribel and many other residents shared their stories about their struggles in paying rent during the event. Other residents say, “it is becoming more difficult to pay my lot rent and other expenses like food, gas, medicine, and other necessities.” Jared Polis drew support from Republicans in the legislature and many landlords in his stance on his opposition to the provision. Polis reportedly thought that rent stabilization could lead to increased closure or abandonment of those mobile home communities.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download