Perhaps in light of the disastrous flooding in another part of Colorado two years ago, as MHProNews reported Sept. 17 2013, Mayor Matt Appelbaum said, “I do think we need to have a plan in place for what happens if something … serious enough (occurs) that some people in some units would be without services, because the mobile home park owner cant afford to fix it.”
Suggestions to deal with the communities include expanded funding through the city’s Mobile Home Rehabilitation Program; inspection of all resales to insure safety of older homes; and the establishment of a legal services fund for residents whose homes pose a safety and financial risk.
Another challenge is to insure that homes remain affordable. To that end, the city council recommended staff explore a rental licensing agreement for community owners, similar to the manner in which apartment rentals are licensed, requiring licensing of the communities in order for the landlord to lease home sites. This would assure that minimum standards are being met.
Another suggestion is for the city to buy the communities. Councilwoman Lisa Morzel, noting that the city could partner with a non-profit or a private-sector group to buy them, said, “If the city got more involved in it we could stabilize not only the existence and the environment, but also the rent increases, and have that as basically a land trust for this group of people.” ##
(Photo credit: dailycamaera/Cliff Grassnick–Maria Rodriguez, left and sister Melicia sit outside their homes at Boulder Meadows.
