An $11.5 million federal grant will help ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ create long-term housing affordability and assist those living in mobile homes across the city and the county, officials say.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was one of 17 recipients of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development community grants.
The Preservation and Reinvestment Initiatives for Community Enhancement grant will go toward dealing with aging and unsafe housing, aiding people living in mobile homes, in part by investing in energy efficiency for families living in manufactured homes, the city said in a news release.
Manufactured housing and mobile homes make up about 10% of the city’s housing stock, which is more than twice the percentage found in other cities across the western United States, the city says. And more than 35% of such homes across Pima County were built before 1976.
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As someone who grew up in such a home, Mayor Regina Romero said the federal grant will help address “a huge need†in the community.
“Many people own the manufactured home, but not the property that it’s on, (and) there’s a lot a of predatory individuals and corporations that take advantage of that,†Romero said at news conference Friday to announce the funding that also was attended by Adelita Grijalva, chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
“Being a child of a family that lived and grew up in a manufactured home, I personally understand what it means to live in a manufactured home,†Romero said, chocking up as she spoke.
“It is absolutely hot in the summer, absolutely cold in the winter,†Romero said. “We look down on people that live in manufactured homes, so it’s a personal story that I carry, and have always advocated for those that are the most vulnerable, so this investment is for the people that live in those homes.â€
The funds will allow the city’s Housing and Community Development department and collaborators to “develop climate-resilient solutions to improve the living conditions†for low- to middle-income residents living in mobile homes, provide gap financing so resident-owned communities can be formed, and aging units can be rehabilitated or replaced. Funds will also go toward eviction prevention and legal assistance for residents throughout the county “to prevent displacement from leased manufactured housing/mobile home lots,†according to the news release.
There will be a focus on people living in the specific areas of the city and county, including around Flowing Wells, East Benson Highway and between Interstate 19 and South Mission Road, according to the city.
“City of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ HCD secured this grant through strong collaboration with Pima County Department of Community and Workforce Development, Poder Casas Móviles, Resident Owned Communities USA, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Industrial Development Authority, Innovation for Justice, the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, and the State manufactured housing residents’ association,†the city said.
Its Housing and Community Development department will be responsible for administering the funds.
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