HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-06-2021; 4-d - Presentation by Carolina Common Enterprise on the Resident-owned Community Model for Manufactured Home Communities 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 6, 2021
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-d
SUBJECT: Presentation by Carolina Common Enterprise on the Resident-owned
Community Model for Manufactured Home Communities
DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community
Development
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emila Sutton, Director, Housing and
Community Development, (919) 245-
2490
PURPOSE: To receive a presentation on Carolina Common Enterprise's implementation of the
resident-owned community model for manufactured home communities (MHCs).
BACKGROUND: Manufactured homes are an important piece of the affordable housing
continuum. The per square foot cost of producing a manufactured home is less than half the cost
of constructing a comparable stick-built, single-family detached home, making manufactured
housing one of the most affordable options available to both renters and homeowners.' Orange
County has approximately 100 manufactured home communities collectively containing more
than 2,000 lots. Due to the high value of land in the County and the potential for large profit
margins, many developers are interested in buying and redeveloping manufactured home
communities for other uses, placing residents in danger of displacement and housing insecurity.
As such, developing an actionable manufactured housing strategy for the County is a priority.
Carolina Common Enterprise (CCE) is a tax-exempt nonprofit cooperative development center
that provides training and technical assistance to cooperatives in North Carolina, including start-
up and growing cooperatives, and businesses converting to a cooperative enterprise. Operating
as ROCarolinas, CCE is also the North Carolina network affiliate of ROC USA, a New Hampshire-
based nonprofit that establishes resident-owned communities (ROCs) — manufactured home
communities that are owned by a cooperative of resident homeowners rather than an outside
landlord. In a ROC, residents buy a share in a cooperative that owns the entire community rather
than each resident renting or owning an individual lot. To date the ROC USA Network has
converted 268 MHCs to resident ownership in 20 states. CCE facilitated the first such North
Carolina conversion last year in Randolph County.
https://housingmatters.urban.org/articles/how-manufactured-housing-can-fill-affordable-housing-
gaps
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CCE will present information on its implementation of the ROC USA development model and the
potential of this model as a solution for increasing affordability and stability in manufactured home
communities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impacts anticipated with this item.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There are no Orange County Social Justice Goals applicable to this
item.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There are no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impacts applicable to this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation
and provide any comments and questions.