![\"TrailerParkBoysCommentaryAlKempExecutiveDirectorManufacturedHomeParkOwnersAllianceBritishColumbiaDailyBusienssNewsMHProNews\"](\"https:\/\/manufacturedhomepronews.com\/industryvoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/TrailerParkBoysCommentaryAlKempExecutiveDirectorManufacturedHomeParkOwnersAllianceBritishColumbiaDailyBusienssNewsMHProNews-575x216.png\")
<\/p>\nHi Tony,<\/p>\n
The short answer is that \u2013 at least in Canada \u2013 \u201ctrailer park\u201d connotes exactly the type of persons portrayed in Trailer Park Boys.\u00a0 This is a long-standing stereotype that was perhaps somewhat relevant 25 or more years ago.<\/p>\n
Today, manufactured home communities \u2013 our preferred term, and one more common in the USA than in Canada \u2013 are the antithesis of what \u201cTPBoys\u201d represents.\u00a0 Are there still a few that fit the stereotype?\u00a0 Yes, just as there a few run-down apartment buildings whose owners only care about receiving rent.<\/p>\n
In Canada, manufactured homes must be built to a federal building code standard \u2013 Z240.\u00a0 They are 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 construction, fully insulated with strong frames and roofs and sheetrock walls \u2013 the same as a fixed building.\u00a0 A new home can sell for $150,000 to $300,000 CAD.\u00a0 Compare this with the price of a similar sized fixed building: in the million-dollar range in Toronto and Vancouver; half a million plus almost anywhere else.<\/p>\n
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More important are the residents.\u00a0 Typically, manufactured home community residents in Canada own their homes and have lived in the community for 10 to 30 years.\u00a0 They aren\u2019t drug dealers or [drug] producers; they aren\u2019t partyers or uncontrolled alcoholics; they don\u2019t get into fist fights, or do anything else that would make for an \u201cinteresting??\u201d TV show.\u00a0 Also, more and more young couples and families are moving in to manufactured home communities. recognizing them as an affordable housing alternative to renting an apartment, and because home ownership is otherwise out of their reach.<\/p>\n
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We say \u201ccommunities\u201d intentionally.\u00a0 An apartment dweller, whether in an owned condo or a rental unit, might know one or two others, often just to say hello in the elevator. Because of the structure of manufactured home communities, and the tenure of residents, everyone not only knows most everyone else, they look out for each other, take care of a neighbour\u2019s home while they go to Arizona for the winter.\u00a0 The community has barbeques and pot luck dinners, bingo nights and garage sales.<\/p>\n
Pretty well everything I\u2019ve described above wouldn\u2019t play well on TPBoys!<\/p>\n
The harmful aspect of the show was that it reinforced the negative stereotype that most politicians hold of our industry.\u00a0 I once spoke to the Mayor of a small town in northern BC [British Columbia] and asked him how many communities there were in the area.\u00a0 He replied, \u201cThree, and I\u2019d like to get rid of all four of them!\u201d \u00a0Two of the three were members of our association, and I know they abided by our code of ethics, provided much needed housing (and property taxes) in the area, etc.<\/p>\n
Our industry in Canada faces the ongoing challenge of a demand for more communities against a political resistance to their development.\u00a0 We did a survey of our members earlier this year; the average vacancy rate was one site for every two communities.<\/p>\n
What we need \u2013 and it would never attract sponsors \u2013 is a show called, \u201cManufactured Home Communities \u2013 the Ignored Affordable Housing Alternative.\u201d<\/p>\n
We will be launching a separate web site shortly, the content of which will be targeted at the 25 \u2013 45 generation; ready to buy a home, but needing thousands more to do so.\u00a0 It will contain stories from community residents, descriptions of homes, manufacturing processes, etc.\u00a0 I\u2019d be happy to send you the link once it is up and running early next year. ##<\/p>\n
![\"AlKempManufacturedHomeParkOwnersAllianceBritishColumbiaIndustryVoicesMHProNews\"](\"https:\/\/manufacturedhomepronews.com\/industryvoices\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/AlKempManufacturedHomeParkOwnersAllianceBritishColumbiaIndustryVoicesMHProNews.png\")
Al Kemp
\nExecutive Director
\nManufactured Home Park Owners Alliance of British Columbia (BC)
\n250-213-2627<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi Tony, The short answer is that \u2013 at least in Canada \u2013 \u201ctrailer park\u201d connotes exactly the type of persons portrayed in Trailer Park …<\/p>\n