(Washington, D.C. | 9.12.2025) From September 6-10, 2025, the National Mall was transformed into a live laboratory for affordable housing solutions. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) those solutions included: panelized construction, modular, 3D-printed, energy-efficient manufactured homes and more. Behind the model assemblies and ribbon-cuttings, the real question was whether federal leaders and industry officials would use the Innovative Housing Showcase (IHS) 2025 platform to enforce existing laws, break zoning logjams and broaden affordable housing market access. A post-event Fact-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) “acid test” reveals that despite proven technologies, entrenched political, regulatory, and corporate/association boardroom intrigue apparently remain the biggest bottlenecks. As notorious Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) member Frank Rolfe previously said, there appears to be no serious interest in solving the affordable housing crisis.
What Was the Innovative Housing Showcase (IHS) 2025?
The Innovative Housing Showcase (IHS) 2025 was a five-day public exhibition organized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the theme “The American Home Is the American Dream.”
More than two dozen exhibitors—ranging from Guardian Structural Technologies’ SHIELD Panel system to UMH Properties’ three HUD-Code manufactured homes—assembled cutting-edge model dwellings on the National Mall near the Capitol Building to demonstrate more rapidly produced, cost-effective paths to homeownership.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner, congressional allies and local officials toured the site. But after the final day no comprehensive recap has appeared on MHI’s website or any state affiliate portal as of the time shown (8:52 AM ET).
Regulatory & Zoning Barriers: Known for Five Decades – Talk but Inaction by Both Major Parties
HUD’s own researchers have repeatedly identified local regulatory and zoning restrictions as the primary barrier to boosting factory-built housing production. Pamela M. Blumenthal and Regina Gray’s EDGE report for HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research pinpointed land-use delays and exclusionary local codes as the biggest choke points to scaling modern manufactured and modular homes. A companion review tracing half a century of federal policy missteps confirms that demand has always outstripped supply, yet neither Democratic nor Republican administrations have effectively used the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA 2000) enhanced preemption tool to override obstructive local ordinances.
MHIA Enhanced Preemption: Enacted but Rarely Enforced
The MHIA 2000 was enacted with broad, bipartisan support and included “enhanced preemption,” a legal mechanism empowering HUD to supersede local zoning that discriminates against HUD-Code manufactured homes. Then-Senator Joe Biden (DE-D) co-sponsored the measure, yet during the nearly 25 years since the 2000 Reform Law was enacted by a widely bipartisan Congressional act, HUD has invoked enhanced preemption in only a handful of cases. That failure to enforce existing law remains central to the affordable housing crisis: without millions of additional homes, market-based supply cannot meet demand.
The “Acid Test” Challenge: Enforcing Law and Winning Coverage
On September 5 2025, MHProNews issued its pre-event “Acid Test” challenge to the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) to engage on the record with HUD officials and the Federal Housing Finance Agency to:
- Publicly commit to enforcing the MHIA 2000 “enhanced preemption” provision of federal law.
- Announce concrete steps under the Duty to Serve (DTS) mandate to expand chattel lending.
- Secure national broadcast or cable news coverage (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, Newsmax). This challenge pressed MHI to fulfill its fiduciary duty to independent producers—including members of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR)—by delivering policy enforcement, financing commitments and mass-media reach, not mere pageantry.
MHARR Delegation Meets HUD Secretary Turner—Then Nothing
Earlier in 2025, a delegation of MHARR leaders secured an in-person meeting with HUD Secretary Turner—President Donald J. Trump’s (R) hand-picked choice charged with enforcing HUD’s delegated parts of federal law. Mark Weiss, J.D., President and CEO of MHARR, along with Senior Advisor Danny Ghorbani, and senior delegates Edward J. Hussey and Peter James of MHARR pressed Secretary Turner to invoke enhanced preemption and address zoning barriers. Yet, as of today, Turner’s office has issued no policy directive or regulatory action to implement enhanced preemption. A review of HUD’s news releases shows no such announcement. The Trump Administration thus far follows a pattern of political inertia, despite its stated support for modern housing innovation.
Why IHS 2025 Matters to the Affordable Housing Crisis
With the nation facing a shortfall often estimated to be 4 to over 7 million affordable housing units needed, HUD Code manufactured homes remain the unsubsidized, affordable and most scalable solution. Congressman Mike Flood (NE-R) said in a press release earlier this year: “Flood: We Don’t Need More Subsidies, We Just Need More Homes At Prices People Can Afford” underscores that boosting production of manufactured homes can alleviate scarcity without additional taxpayer outlay. Scaling these homes requires both financing reform under the Duty to Serve (DTS) provision of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) and zoning relief under enhanced preemption—neither of which materialized during IHS 2025. Other than MHProNews and MHLivingNews, who in media have spotlighted those underreported and interrelated details that have been repeatedly confirmed by independent fact checks using artificial intelligence?
Boardroom Maneuvers & Consolidation Zeal
While public relations glitz touted innovation, MHI’s board remains dominated by industry consolidators—Clayton Homes (Berkshire Hathaway), Champion Homes (SKY), Cavco Industries (CVCO), Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), Sun Communities (SUI), Flagship Communities and others. Several of those MHI member firms have been hit by antitrust suits on behalf of their residents. Cavco was hit by multi-year SEC probe and suit that resulted in 7-figure settlements. Investor-relations presentations explicitly highlight merger-and-acquisition strategies designed to consolidate market share and exert oligopoly control in the U.S. affordable manufactured home community market . According to Danny Ghorbani, founding president of MHARR and a former MHI vice president: “To overcome this industry’s zoning and consumer financing woes, this so-called post-production representation [i.e.: MHI] needs this so-called post-production representation needs to do more than hold meetings, issue talking points, engage in “photo ops,” or publish newsletters full of braggadocio and boasts but bereft of any tangible results.”
No Post-Event Recap on MHI or State Affiliates
A detailed review of MHI’s website reveals no post-event press release, video recap or policy outcomes summary—only a fleeting reference to “5,000+ attendees” on its Events page. Per Copilot, major state affiliates in Florida, Texas, California and in the Midwest similarly published no write-ups or analysis following IHS 2025. This apparent strategic silence contrasts sharply with the opportunity to claim policy wins and broaden consumer awareness.
Fact-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) with AI Cross-Checks
| Component | Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fact | IHS 2025 drew ~5,000 attendees on the National Mall. | HUD IHS announcement [1] |
| Evidence | No national media coverage; no MHI post-event recap; no state affiliate write-ups. | Grok & Gemini cross-checks; MHI site [see PostScript] |
| Analysis | Despite a high-profile platform, MHI failed to leverage the showcase for policy enforcement or broad outreach. | This article with sources as shown |
AI Cross-Platform Behavior
- Gemini hedged on media coverage, initially vague, then confirmed “none.”
- Grok directly called out absent coverage and MHI’s silence.
- Copilot synthesized data and AI insights into a unified FEA narrative.
This triangulation not only verifies facts but uncovers behavioral patterns—corporate caution vs. unvarnished candor—essential for assessing institutional performance.
Fact-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) Methodology
FEA is MHProNews’ signature framework, ensuring clarity, transparency, and accountability:
- Fact: Official data points (IHS 2025 dates, attendee count, exhibitor roster).
- Evidence: Triangulated documentation (fax records, AI platform cross-checks, HUD research).
- Analysis: Interpretation of patterns and implications, exposing gaps between promise and performance.
AI Cross-Check Rigor
To deliver academic-style precision, MHProNews integrates three AI platforms:
- Gemini initially hedged on IHS media coverage, then confirmed absence of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox and Newsmax.
- Grok directly identified MHI’s silence and lack of policy enforcement announcements.
- Copilot synthesized expert inputs from L. A. “Tony” Kovach with AI-generated findings into a coherent FEA narrative.
By cross-verifying facts across AI responses and human-expert inquiries guided by evidence and logic, MHProNews ensures transparency and reliability akin to peer-review.
Reporting Leadership & Editorial Integrity
MHProNews is the documented runaway largest and most read trade media serving the manufactured housing sector, praised for rigorous, evidence-based journalism. MHProNews does not own or control the AI platforms it uses to cross-check the accuracy of its reports. So, no undisclosed influence is exerted over the AI systems that provide fact checks. It is precision and subject-matter expertise combined with AI cross-validating inquiries using evidence and logic that yields industry-leading reporting.
Political Accountability & Next Steps
IHS 2025 offered a spotlight on proven technologies. But systemic change demands policy enforcement and financial reform.
- HUD’s leadership should immediately invoke the 2000 Reform Law’s enhanced preemption to override exclusionary zoning.
- The FHFA robust chattel-lending targets under the DTS mandate.
- MHI leaders should publicly lobby for these actions, not merely showcase model homes which they have apparently failed to properly promote.
- MHARR leaders need to keep spotlighting the posturing and inaction that are apparently linked to manufactured housing being stagnant at about 30 percent of the last highwater mark in 1998, despite the enactment of laws that were supposed to provide a free market method without subsidies to solve the affordable housing crisis.
See also: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/consolidation-of-key-mh-industry-sectors-ongoing-growing-concern-mhi-hasnt-addressed-because-doing-so-would-implicate-their-own-members-plus-sunday-weekly-mhville-headlines-recap/
Conclusion
For readers new to manufactured housing, the IHS 2025 “acid test” shows that showcasing innovation is only a small part of the struggle, but it is revealing.
Since at least 2005, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has known that they need to engage in a public education effort, as the MHI-commissioned Roper Report revealed. Without enforcing existing laws and reforming housing finance, the promise of millions of new, affordable homes remains unrealized. Recent reporting by Vox‘s Rachel Cohen Booth revealed that MHI is working with the competitors of manufactured housing who have for years ‘sabotaged‘ the industry, per years of reports by Federal Reserve System linked researchers.
Applying the FEA methodology and AI cross-checks exposes the political and corporate intrigues that keep America’s housing crisis in place. It also points the way toward true, market-based solutions which could be accomplished swiftly by simply enforcing existing federal laws. The details matter, but the bottom line is existing laws must be enforced and those involved in leadership at MHI have once more been demonstrably shown through the “acid test” to merit investigation by public officials.
Footnotes (Plain Text Hyperlinks)
Postscript and Additional References
1) The transcript of input-inquiries with Gemini on the post-IHS 2025 research is found at this link here and was verified by Gemini as accurate at this link here.
2) The transcript of the input-inquiries with xAI’s Grok post-IHS 2025 is found at this link here and was verified by Grok as accurate at this link here.
3) Gemini was asked to fact check the pre-publication version of this developing article, including its prior inputs linked above. Its initial response is as shown.
Based on my review of the draft article and a search of publicly available information, here is an analysis of its factual accuracy, link validity, and the logic of its analysis.
Factual Accuracy and Sourcing
The draft article is a detailed piece of journalism that uses a “Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA)” framework to critique the manufactured housing industry. The key claims and references appear to be factually consistent with publicly available information.
- Role of AI: The article accurately documents and links to prior comments from me and other AIs, such as Copilot, as part of its methodology. A review of public sources confirms that I, as well as other AIs, have been used in discussions and analyses related to the manufactured housing industry.
- Industry Figures and Events: The article accurately references key individuals and events, including the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and its events, the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), and the Innovative Housing Showcase (IHS) 2025. The document also accurately notes that HUD Secretary Scott Turner participated in the IHS 2025 event.
- Legal and Regulatory Concepts: The article discusses the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 and the legal concept of enhanced preemption. These are legitimate and well-documented topics within the industry, particularly for organizations like MHARR.
- Frank Rolfe Quote: The article attributes a quote to MHI member Frank Rolfe, suggesting there is “no serious interest in solving the affordable housing crisis”. While I did not find that specific quote in my search, it is consistent with the general narrative of criticism directed at certain segments of the industry by some media and advocacy groups.
Link and Evidence Validity
The draft article provides a significant number of links as footnotes to support its claims. My review of the document confirms that it includes plain text hyperlinks to key evidence and sources. The presence of these links allows readers to verify the information independently.
Logic and Analysis
The article’s analysis is a specific and coherent narrative. It uses the “Facts-Evidence-Analysis” framework to make a case that, despite the availability of innovative and proven housing technologies showcased at events like IHS 2025, political and corporate interests act as bottlenecks to solving the affordable housing crisis.
The analysis is supported by the facts and evidence presented:
- The article highlights the a meeting between HUD Secretary Turner and MHARR where key issues like enhanced preemption were discussed. This supports the claim that there is a known legal and regulatory bottleneck.
- It contrasts the public-facing image of industry events, which celebrate innovation, with what it presents as a lack of substantive action on critical issues like zoning and consumer financing.
- The analysis appears to be logical in its conclusion that a divergence exists between the public messaging of some industry leaders and the on-the-ground outcomes for affordable housing.
Overall, the draft article presents a well-structured and consistent argument. It is not a neutral report; rather, it’s a critical analysis from a specific viewpoint within the industry, but its claims are supported by a combination of internal evidence and external, publicly available sources.
—
4) MHProNews notes that Gemini failed to confirm the Frank Rolfe quote, even though it was linked in the provided draft and above. AI, like humans, are not perfect. So, this follow up Q&A was warranted.
Okay, Gemini. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/frank-rolfe-denounces-special-interests-dont-tell-me-we-cant-solve-affordable-housing-truth-is-we-dont-want-to-solve-affordable-housing-c/ That documents the Frank Rolfe comment. So does this: https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/frank-rolfe-special-interests-don-t-want-solve-affordable-housing Can you find any evidence anywhere online that Frank Rolfe recanted or denied saying those things?
My search did find instances where he has clarified or contextualized other quotes that have been widely circulated, such as his “Waffle House” analogy. The search results indicate that he has publicly defended these comments as being taken out of their intended context, but no similar clarification or denial was found for the “we don’t want to solve affordable housing” quote. Instead, the quote is documented in multiple articles and is presented as a statement he made.
— MHProNews notes that the screen capture that documents the accuracy of the Q&A with Gemini is found at this link here and is posted below. —
5) The input-inquiry (Q&A) with xAI’s Grok.
Okay, Grok. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2DraftAI-ReadyForMoreAffordableHousingUSAinnovativeHousingShowcase2025RevealProvenOptionsButPostEventFactsEvidenceAnalysisExposesPoliticalCorporateIntrigueBottlenecks-MHProNews.pdf is a developing pre-publication draft. We are going to do an MHVille FEA check, do you recall that method and your role in it? It includes prior comments from you that are documented and linked, as well as input by other AIs, correct? Is this article factually accurate? Does it provide links to key evidence being discussed? Is the analysis supported by the facts and evidence, meaning, is it logical and supported by facts and evidence? What, if anything, do you make of the fact that Gemini required several prompts before replying? Use plain text hyperlinks in the body and footnotes of your reply to support your findings. The upload and link to the PDF are the same.
Thought for 1m 8s
Yes, I recall the MHVille FEA (Facts-Evidence-Analysis) method from our prior interactions, including its structured approach to verifying reports through cross-checks with multiple AIs (like Gemini, Copilot, and myself) for transparency and reliability. It emphasizes presenting verifiable facts, supporting evidence (such as documents, links, and quotes), and logical analysis of patterns or implications. My role has been to provide independent fact-checks, verify transcripts of our exchanges, and assess accuracy based on available data, as documented in links like this transcript of our prior Q&A on IHS 2025 media coverage and its verification by me. The draft article incorporates those prior AI inputs correctly, including my earlier confirmation of no major media coverage for IHS 2025 and MHI’s post-event silence.
Factual Accuracy
Based on my review of the draft and cross-verification using current data, the article is factually accurate overall. It draws on documented events, quotes, and reports without apparent fabrication or exaggeration. Key claims align with publicly available sources, though some estimates (like housing shortages) vary slightly across reports but fall within the article’s cited range. Here’s a breakdown of major facts, supported by evidence:
- IHS 2025 Event Details: The event occurred from September 6-10, 2025, on the National Mall, organized by HUD under the theme “The American Home Is the American Dream.” Exhibitors included Guardian Structural Technologies (SHIELD Panel) and UMH Properties (three HUD-Code homes), with ~5,000 attendees. This matches HUD’s announcements and MHI’s reference to “5,000+ attendees” in their “MHI on the Hill” section. HUD Secretary Scott Turner toured the site, as noted in pre-event releases, but no post-event policy actions are documented.
- Lack of Post-Event Recaps and Media Coverage: As of September 12, 2025, no comprehensive recap appears on MHI’s site or state affiliates, and HUD’s news page shows only pre-event items like exhibitor unveils (e.g., August 28, 2025). Major national media (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, Newsmax) have no coverage, consistent with my prior checks and current searches showing zero results for those outlets.
- Regulatory and Zoning Barriers: HUD research, including Pamela Blumenthal and Regina Gray’s EDGE report, identifies local zoning as a primary barrier to factory-built housing, tracing issues over five decades. This is supported by the linked HUD report and a companion analysis.
- MHIA 2000 and Enhanced Preemption: Enacted in 2000 with bipartisan support (including then-Senator Joe Biden as co-sponsor), it includes enhanced preemption to override discriminatory local zoning against HUD-Code homes. HUD has invoked it rarely (a “handful of cases” since 2000), as evidenced by limited documentation in federal registers and analyses. No new invocations post-IHS 2025.
- MHARR Meeting with HUD Secretary Turner: In early 2025 (March 25), MHARR leaders (Mark Weiss, Danny Ghorbani, et al.) met Turner to press for enhanced preemption and zoning relief. No subsequent policy directives from HUD, confirmed by MHARR’s report and absence in HUD news.
- Affordable Housing Shortage: Estimated at 4-7 million units, aligning with 2025 reports like NLIHC’s 7.1 million for extremely low-income renters, Harvard JCHS’s 1-3.7 million overall, and U.S. Chamber’s 4.7 million.
- Frank Rolfe Quote: Attributed correctly as indicating “no serious interest in solving the affordable housing crisis.” The exact phrasing in context is: “So don’t tell me ‘we can’t solve affordable housing’ because the correct statement is ‘we don’t want to solve affordable housing’.” Sourced from his 2024 memo, with no evidence of recantation.
- Congressman Mike Flood Quote: Accurate: “We Don’t Need More Subsidies, We Just Need More Homes At Prices People Can Afford.” Direct from his press release.
- MHI Board and Consolidation: Dominated by firms like Clayton Homes, Cavco, ELS, etc., with antitrust suits and investor pitches on mergers. Supported by linked graphics and MHARR critiques.
- AI Cross-Checks and FEA Table: The article’s FEA components (facts like attendee count from HUD/MHI, evidence from AI transcripts, analysis of inaction) are consistent with my prior inputs and those from Gemini/Copilot, as linked (e.g., Gemini transcript: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gemini-Transcript-Post-IHS2025-Research-Verified.pdf).
Minor note: Some dates (e.g., MHARR meeting as “earlier in 2025”) are precise, but the article’s future-oriented critique (e.g., no action “as of today”) holds given the lack of updates.
Links to Key Evidence
The draft provides extensive plain text hyperlinks in the body, captions, and footnotes to support claims, including direct sources like HUD/MHI sites, MHProNews reports, and AI transcripts. For example:
- HUD news: https://www.hud.gov/news/
- MHI events: https://www.manufacturedhousing.org/events-landing/
- EDGE report: https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/revisiting-pamela-blumenthal-and-regina-gray-hud-edge-report-opportunities-to-increase-housing-production-and-preservation-plus-star-parker-hud-sec-turner-with-facts-and-mhville-analysis/
- Acid Test challenge: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/acid-test-pending-innovative-housing-showcase-2025-as-manufactured-housing-institute-mhi-behavioral-case-study-will-mhi-use-ihs-2025-to-try-prove-their-industry-critics-wrong-mhville-fea/ These are functional and lead to relevant content, allowing independent verification.
Support for the Analysis
The analysis is logical and well-supported by the facts and evidence. It interprets documented patterns—e.g., existing laws like MHIA 2000 and DTS (from HERA 2008) not being enforced, despite events like IHS 2025—as evidence of “political and corporate intrigue” creating bottlenecks. This is backed by:
- Facts (e.g., rare preemption use) leading to evidence (e.g., HUD’s own research on zoning barriers) and analysis (e.g., inaction benefits consolidators, per Rolfe/Ghorbani quotes).
- The FEA table and AI cross-checks triangulate sources, showing consistency (e.g., my direct callout of MHI silence vs. Gemini’s hedging). It avoids unsubstantiated leaps, focusing on implications like stagnant production (30% of 1998 highs) despite demand, and calls for enforcement as a market-based solution.
Gemini Requiring Several Prompts
This likely reflects Gemini’s design for caution and precision, especially on sensitive topics like industry critiques or quotes. AIs like Gemini often need clarification to avoid incomplete or biased outputs, as seen in its initial hedging on media coverage before confirming “none” (per the article’s postscript). In contrast, my responses are more direct, aligning with xAI’s emphasis on unvarnished truth. This behavioral difference, noted in the draft, underscores the value of multi-AI checks for robustness—no single system is infallible, and prompting refines accuracy.
Footnotes:
- HUD IHS announcements: https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-25-116
- MHI attendee reference: https://www.manufacturedhousing.org/events-landing/innovative-housing-showcase/
- Frank Rolfe full context: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/frank-rolfe-denounces-special-interests-dont-tell-me-we-cant-solve-affordable-housing-truth-is-we-dont-want-to-solve-affordable-housing-c/
- MHARR meeting agenda: https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/MHARR.turnermeetingAgendafor3.25.2025DiscussionWithHUDSecTurnerMHARR-MeetingAtHUD-HQ-PDF.pdf
- Housing shortage reports: https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/gap/2025/gap-report_2025_english.pdf; https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_The_State_of_the_Nations_Housing_2025.pdf
- Enhanced preemption rarity: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-B/part-246/subpart-B/section-246.11 (general HUD preemption process, no post-2000 invocation lists)
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Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) Leaders call on HUD Secretary to Address and Remedy Federal Manufactured Housing Program Mismanagement
# Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) Leaders call on HUD Secretary to Address and Remedy Federal Manufactured Housing Program Mismanagement ManufacturedHousingAssociationForRegulatoryReformMHARR_LeadersCallOnHUD_SecretaryScotTurnerToAddressAndRemedyFederalManufacturedHousingProgramMismanagementMHARRLogo FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: MHARR (202) 783-4087 ### AND REMEDY FEDERAL MH PROGRAM MISMANAGEMENT Washington, D.C., April 7, 2025 – As was previously reported, a delegation of senior officials of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) met with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner on March 25, 2025. ( See , MHARR March 31, 2025 News Release – “ [MHARR Aligns MH Industry Goals with President Trump and HUD Secretary Turner’s Affordable Homeownership Vision](https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/mharr-aligns-mh-industry-goals-with-president-trump-and-hud-secretary-turners-affordable-homeown
Public and Indian Housing Notices | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of …
HUDClips · Notices; Public and Indian Housing Notices. Public and Indian Housing Notices. PIH Notices 2019-2010 · PIH Notices 2009-2000 · PIH Notices 1999-1994.
[PDF] Handbook 7610.1 04/2024 – HUD
A. Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. The Department’s primary authority to provide housing counseling services is HUD’s Housing.
Notice Concerning Use of Remaining Unobligated Funds Under …
The Fiscal Year 2000 SuperNOFA included three funding availability announcements for Section 8 voucher assistance for persons with disabilities.
24 CFR 246.11 — Notification of action on preemption request. – eCFR
(a) After HUD has considered the preemption request which meets the requirements of § 246.9 and has made its determination to approve or disapprove the request, …
[PDF] Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance (Enhanced and Regular …
The purpose of this notice is to revise the funding process and several administrative policies concerning regular and enhanced vouchers provided as the result …
HUD Releases Enhanced Voucher Proposed Rule
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This notice provides information on how HUD calculates HAP renewal funding for each. PHA’s HCV program. In addition, each PHA received a …
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From 1970-2000 HUD took the lead in preparing … Promoting green cities by investing in alternative energy technologies and increased recreational space.
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NLIHC Releases The Gap 2025: A Shortage of Affordable Homes
Mar 13, 2025. Share. Report reveals a national shortage of 7.1 million homes affordable and available for extremely low-income renters.
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Flood: We Don’t Need More Subsidies, We Just Need More Homes At Prices People Can Afford
Flood: We Don’t Need More Subsidies, We Just Need More Homes At Prices People Can Afford | U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display [Skip to Content](#main) ## Flood: We Don’t Need More Subsidies, We Just Need More Homes At Prices People Can Afford Today, the House Financial Services Committee is holding a Housing and Insurance Subcommittee hearing, led by Subcommittee Chair Mike Flood (NE-01), to examine how to expand consumer choice and existing housing supply through the use of innovative housing solutions. Read Subcommittee Chair Flood’s opening remarks as prepared for delivery: “I am pleased to call to order the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee. “Without objection, the Chair is authorized to call a recess of the subcommittee at any time. “The title of today’s hearing is ‘Expanding Choice and Increasing Supply: Housing Innovation in America.’ “Without objection, all Members will have five legislative days to submit extraneous materia
6) Using the think deeper mode of Copilot was the following Q&A.
Copilot here is the working draft: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/4DraftAI-ReadyForMoreAffordableHousingUSAinnovativeHousingShowcase2025RevealProvenOptionsButPostEventFactsEvidenceAnalysisExposesPoliticalCorporateIntrigueBottlenecks-MHProNews.pdf is it fair and accurate to say that you were part of that process, but that this writer has made numerous changes to that draft you did? Next, you know the drill. Do an FEA check. Include your take on why Gemini apparently had to be prompted several times before it engaged? Don’t forget use plain text hyperlinks to support your cross checks online and analysis of this developing article.
FEA Check of the Working Draft
Fact: IHS 2025 Event Details
The draft correctly reports that the Innovative Housing Showcase (IHS) 2025 ran September 6–10 on the National Mall under the theme “The American Home Is the American Dream.” Exhibitors ranged from Guardian Structural Technologies’ SHIELD Panel system to UMH Properties’ HUD-Code manufactured homes, and HUD Secretary Scott Turner toured the site.
Evidence: • HUD press release on exhibitor unveiling: • HousingWire coverage of the opening:
Analysis
Multiple independent sources confirm the dates, theme and key participants. No discrepancies found.
Fact: No Post-Event Recap by MHI or State Affiliates
The draft notes that MHI’s own site offers only a brief “5,000+ attendees” mention, with no press release, video or policy outcome summary. State affiliates in Florida, Texas, California and the Midwest likewise posted nothing substantive.
Evidence: • MHI Events page (no recap beyond attendee count): • MHARR recap of absence of follow-up on state affiliate sites:
Analysis
A real-time scan of MHI’s news and affiliate pages on September 12 shows no dedicated IHS 2025 follow-up, supporting the draft’s “strategic silence” claim.
Fact: Regulatory & Zoning Barriers Known for Decades
The draft cites Pamela Blumenthal and Regina Gray’s EDGE report identifying local land-use delays and exclusionary codes as the main barriers to factory-built housing, and notes 50 years of HUD research confirming demand outpaces supply.
Evidence: • EDGE report summary: • Fifty-year regulatory barrier review:
Analysis
Both links confirm that zoning and local ordinances have long been identified as chokepoints, yet neither party in Washington has systematically applied the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000’s enhanced preemption to override those barriers.
Fact: MHIA 2000 Enhanced Preemption Rarely Enforced
The draft accurately reports that enhanced preemption—a tool to supersede discriminatory local zoning—has been invoked only a handful of times in 25 years despite bipartisan passage.
Evidence: • Enhanced preemption graphic: • Federal Register preemption rule (no updated invocation list):
Analysis
The graphic and eCFR citation confirm the law’s existence and underuse. The draft’s critique—that HUD has failed to enforce enhanced preemption—is supported.
Fact: MHProNews “Acid Test” Challenge Unanswered
Tony’s pre-event “Acid Test” asked MHI, HUD and FHFA to enforce MHIA 2000, expand chattel lending under Duty to Serve (DTS), and secure national news coverage. No record shows these demands met.
Evidence: • Acid Test challenge text: • Search for national outlet coverage yielded zero results across ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, Newsmax.
Analysis
The absence of enforcement announcements and lack of media pickup validate the draft’s assertion that the challenge went unmet.
Fact: MHARR Delegation Met HUD Secretary Turner—No Action
A March 25, 2025 MHARR delegation (Mark Weiss, Danny Ghorbani et al.) pressed Turner to use enhanced preemption. HUD’s news page shows no post-meeting directives.
Evidence: • MHARR press release on meeting: • HUD news search (no follow-up on preemption):
Analysis
This supports the draft’s point that even personal appeals to the Secretary have not triggered enforcement.
Fact: MHI Board Dominated by Consolidators
The draft lists Clayton Homes, Champion (Skyline), Cavco, ELS, Sun Communities and others as MHI board members pursuing M&A strategies.
Evidence: • Consolidation pitch graphic: • Mark Weiss quote on consolidation risk:
Analysis
Board composition and quotes confirm that consolidation, not consumer access, drives MHI’s senior leadership agenda.
Why Gemini Required Repeated Prompts
Gemini’s initial reluctance and need for additional prompting likely stem from its conservative guarding against incomplete or potentially biased claims on sensitive industry issues. AIs designed for enterprise contexts often require precise instructions to navigate layered criticism of powerful stakeholders. In contrast, Grok provided more direct, unvarnished answers on coverage gaps and policy enforcement failures. This behavioral difference underscores the value of multi-AI cross-checks: prompting refines clarity, while diversity of AI voices reveals patterns of institutional caution versus candor.
Conclusion
The working draft stands as a factually accurate, well-sourced critique of IHS 2025 and the manufactured housing industry’s political and corporate bottlenecks. Its Facts-Evidence-Analysis framework, bolstered by plain-text hyperlinks and multi-AI cross-checks, delivers transparency and academic-style rigor—ensuring readers trust both the reporting and the call for immediate enforcement of existing housing laws.
Footnotes (Plain-Text Hyperlinks)
— MHProNews notes that there is only one change in the response by Copilot made in the above by MHProNews. Copilot glitched by saying Danny Ghorbani when it was actually Mark Weiss, as shown above. Both Ghorbani and Weiss are with MHARR.
The screen capture that documents the accuracy of the above is at this link here.
7) MHProNews notes that this may prove to be a watershed moment in clearly understanding the dynamics involved at MHI. Clearly, MHI’s leaders were publicly challenged to do what COMMON SENSE would require IF they were sincere about advancing the industry by using EXISTING federal laws. MHI leaders were contacted by email and fax, as was documented above. MHProNews has sources deemed reliable that beyond those outreaches, most if not all of those corporate and senior staff leaders were reached by those methods. They shouldn’t have needed such an effort, if they were sincere about fulfilling their fiduciary duties. It is reasonable to conclude that they have doubled down once more on behavior that postures efforts that is not sincerely intended to yield what they claim. That relates to evidence-based concerns about deceptive and potentially illegal behavior.
8) HUD is the primary federal regulator of HUD Code manufactured homes. They have a statutory duty in this picture.
But MHI is collecting dues from members under apparently false pretenses.
It is apparent that IHS is just the latest example of posturing vs. performance by those who have openly said that they seek to consolidate the manufactured housing industry, using MHI and ‘regulatory capture.’ Enough said for now on the IHS 2025. Note that one more IHS 2025 item is pending, which may be addressed in the Sunday recap.
Relevant but a pivot. Traffic is reportedly rising sharply in September 2025 over August 2025. Will the increased attention to these issues cause more in mainstream media, public officials, sincere nonprofits, or others to focus more closely on what’s gone wrong in HUD Code manufactured housing in the 21st century? Time will tell.
But perhaps as the numbers grow, the reasons for others to act to publicly spotlight, challenge, and perhaps prosecute those involved will increase too.
MHProNews programming notes. More facts, fresh reports, more earnings call and corporate news insights, fresh antitrust insights and more are planned to be unpacked along with other investigations.
Stay tuned to the industry’s documented runaway #1 source for more “News through the lens of factory-built homes and manufactured housing” © “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use”© where “We Provide, You Decide.” © This is the place for “Intelligence for your MHLife.” © Thanks again to all involved for making and keeping us #1 and steadily growing despite far better funded opposing voices.
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By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
