In the background of numerous mainstream media news stories are the underlying cause(s) of the headlined issue.
A recent example of this is a CBS News report on the stunning rise of what some are calling “vehicular homelessness.” Even with economic improvements, more people are trying to figure out affordable living the best way they can.
Forget living in that mobile tiny house or RV, say some, and go straight to living out of your car, minivan or SUV.
There are “how to” videos on YouTube that tell viewers how they’ve managed living out of their vehicles, so others in a similar financial fix can too. There are over 15.5 million ‘hits’ on Google for this topic. The following two YouTube videos were selected at random out of scores of possible options, to give some flavor to the range of sophistication of those taking part in this troubling trend.
The first “how to” video has had over 4,000 views.
This second one has had over 400,000 views.
Those who are living in vehicles are often people who have a job. But they can’t find an affordable home.
The problem with living in a vehicle – as CBS explained – is that living in your vehicle can also bring fines or other legal penalties. It’s simply not legal in many jurisdictions.
What’s a Common Thread Underlying These Issues?
Land use and related local zoning, state, and federal policies are at the heart of many of these issues.
As a recent court case reported by the Daily Business News spotlighted, there are concerns over the “unconstitutional taking” of a manufactured home community owner’s property rights at the center of several of these battles.
The legal case in Newark, AR is an example of how local policies are attempting to push those who already have a mobile or manufactured home out, based solely on the value of the home. But isn’t lower cost the essence of affordability?
Zoning and land use are issues that MHProNews has explored for years, and a related report on MHLivingNews is linked below.
https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/local-star-chambers-wage-war-on-affordable-housing/
An entrepreneur highlighted yesterday revealed how he took older mobile homes and manufactured homes, updated them, and created dozens of affordable housing options in community that previously had been failing. Ryan Kirk’s community is an example of how free enterprise and vision can create affordable housing options that residents say has improved their standard of life.
The solution in part – as the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), some state executives, and MHProNews – have said for years is the enhanced preemption provision of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000.
See a prior related report that includes that download, above. Count on more coverage on this critical topic here in the days ahead. ## (News, analysis, and commentary.)
(Third-party images and content are provided under fair use guidelines.) See Related Reports, linked further below.
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