MADISON, WI – Yesterday, in a Spectrum News 1 report, State Senator Jeff Smith (D-31) laid out his legislation that would grant renters in manufactured homes protections against private equity. The protections include affording residents the right to buy the mobile/manufactured home park if a third party makes an offer, requiring rent notices and limits, and creating tax incentives for collectively owned parks.

Despite Republicans’ refusal to hear Senator Smith’s bill, he and Senate Democrats remain focused on making life more affordable in Wisconsin, ensuring that when Democrats retake a majority, they have proactive legislation ready to go on day one.

Read More on SD 31’s State Senator Jeff Smith advocating for affordable housing protections:

Spectrum News 1: ‘When people work together cooperatively, they win’: Why there’s a push to keep manufactured homes affordable in Wisconsin

  • “Earlier this year, Smith introduced a bill that would give residents the right to buy the park when third-party offers are made to the owner. The bill included provisions for rent increase notices and limits, as well as added tax incentives for parks owned by a resident association.”
  • “‘It’s also, to some degree, the last vestige of affordable housing,’ Smith added. ‘And it’s becoming less so because it’s been discovered by investors that this is an easy way to invest and then take advantage of people who really, actually need a little help to make sure that they are not homeless.’”
  • “‘All of a sudden their rent has gone up, or they’ve suddenly had to pay for a spot to park the car that they did not have to pay for before, or there’s a weather issue, and they have nowhere to go,’ State Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick, said.”
  • “You own the house, and you own the land,” Parliament said. “And I think that’s what home ownership means in America.”
  • “Smith’s bill didn’t make much progress this year under the Republican-controlled legislature. He hopes to now find new ways to make the bill better and draft legislation for the next legislative session.”
  • “‘We’re holding a town hall on this issue, specifically targeted to the people who are affected by this,’ Smith said. ‘We’re hoping to draw them to this town hall to give us their firsthand experiences that they have felt while living in a manufactured housing community.’”
  • “Smith hopes to hear from manufactured home community residents living in the Chippewa Valley, including those from Hillcrest Estates and Villa Diann. If you would like to attend, the event will be held on Tuesday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. inside the Fish House at Altoona City Park.”