EAU CLAIRE, WI – This week, State Senator Jeff Smith (SD-31) held a town hall in Altoona with owners of manufactured homes to discuss the struggle of rising costs facing their community and his efforts in the Senate to protect Wisconsin manufactured home owners from predatory private equity companies and rising costs. 

Senate Bill 1027, introduced by Senator Smith but killed by Republican legislators, would: 

  • Guarantee manufactured home owners the right to purchase the land their home sits on;
  • Offer the owners of manufactured homes a tax incentive if the land is sold to a homeowners’ association, co-op, or membership organization.
  • Prohibit rent hikes or additional fees for a 12-month period unless the owner or operator provides residents with at least 90 days’ notice before the effective date of the increase. 
  • Requires that each community owner develop a plan for evacuating the community residents in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, and that the community rules specify the procedure for using the plan.
  • Includes regulatory changes to protect manufactured home owners. 

Learn more about Sen. Smith’s Townhall in Altoona:

News 8000: State Senator Jeff Smith Holds Altoona Town Hall Meeting

WEAU 13 News: State Sen. Jeff Smith looks to protect affordable housing

  • “State Senator Jeff Smith took a visit to Altoona City Park to talk about protections for affordable housing. He spoke to owners of manufactured homes. He says they’ve been experiencing a concerning trend. Smith has been pushing action to protect these residents from investment groups that he says come in, buy the land these homes sit on and jack up prices. He says making sure these residents are taken care of isn’t just a Chippewa Valley issue.”
  • “It’s important for everywhere we’re experiencing affordable housing crisis. This is like the last vestige of affordable housing for many people, and to take that away from them leaves them with no other options at all, said Smith.”
  • “Smith tells us it’s been tough finding bipartisan support this election year. He says legislators need to sit down and talk about what’s important in our communities, and that this is one of those issues.”