HB1397 Statement by Mary Paden, Chair, South County Task Force, a group that advocates for social justice on the Route 1 Corridor in Fairfax County. I speak in favor of HB 1397 Along Fairfax County’s 9-mile Route 1 corridor north of Ft Belvoir there are five thriving mobile home communities that offer unsubsidized affordable housing to about 1,200 hardworking families. This corridor, one of the poorest areas of the county, is planned for dense development that threatens to displace these families. A coalition of mobile home owners has advocated with the county for better conditions and even joined with the county and a nonprofit to make an offer to purchase one of the mobile home parks using the current Manufactured Housing Lot Lease Act. But that state law failed them and an equity company bought the park for a lower bid because of a preexisting sales contract with a penalty clause. We want to amend that law to make it easier for mobile home owners to purchase their parks. Tenant and nonprofit ownership of Mobile Home Parks is growing nationally because it offers security and many benefits of homeownership. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal agencies recognize mobile homes as affordable housing and have been changing regulations to make it easier to get mortgages. Examples of parks owned and run by resident associations, some in combination with nonprofits or local governments, include ROCUSA, Southwood in Charlottsville Va, and Bermuda Estates in Chesterfield Va. If a park’s location makes it too expensive to purchase, tenants and their allies will advocate for the county to create funds and use proffers to make sure home owners are compensated for their property and engaged in relocation plans. This committee must remove language that limits the capacity of localities during the re-zoning process. Thank you for your time and attention.

Good afternoon, I am Keren Croasdaile. I’ve lived my adolescence in Penn-Dawn with both my mother, step-father and my pet, it is my home. The sense of housing instability I experienced was very stressful growing up, it was difficult to live with the fear of the rug being pulled from under our feet. By the time I was reaching my adolescence; my parents saved enough to purchase a moving home. This was a very big step for us. When my parents moved to Penn-Dawn, this was the first time I had truly felt a sense of stability in terms of housing. These homes are accessible to many who struggle not only with housing insecurity but also financial instability. They are more than what most may see them as, for example transient or low quality homes. It is vital that not only we erase the stigma around this type of housing but also invest and protect mobile homes and those that call them their homes. We are around 90 families in the midst of a fast developing area and fear a developer will purchase our park. Afraid of the 60 days’ notice of sale and eviction, even if we work hard with our community, a non-profit and local government; our counter-offer won’t be taken into consideration. Please review and consider to pass bill 1397, which will give us an opportunity to own our park. Give us an opportunity towards home stability and protect us from displacement. Thank you.

Good Afternoon, I am Marinaela Funes, a Community Organizer with Tenants and Workers United. I have been working with The Mobile Home Coalition in South Fairfax for over three years. In the past three years I have seen how families have been displaced and how even though community members have been making huge efforts to get financial support from the local government, the community has not been taken into consideration when a Park is for sale by the property owner. I can recall some examples of this complex situation. 1- In December 2022 Harmony Place was one of the mobile homes In south Fairfax. Community residents got a 60 day notice about the sale of the property. It took them by surprise since the property owner denied many times that the park was for sale: In 60 days the residents formed a tenants association, looked for nonprofits to partner up with, and met with the local government and housing authorities to get their support. After so much work, the county and a nonprofit offered half a million more than the first buyer, but it wasn't enough to overcome the cost of the penalty clause. I remember that cold night when the park was sold, many community members and myself were crying. We felt so close and so far to making our dreams come true. To run the park by ourselves and preserve it as affordable. 2- At another Fairfax County park the seller refused to even consider an offer from the tenants because he had a contract with a buyer. Rays and Engleside Parks were sold in 2022 for $24.2 million. The situation was similar, residents got a 60 days notice of sale. In this time, the community created the Tenants association and found a nonprofit to support them. In this case the county was willing to support financially. However, the short notice and the overvalue of the property played against us. The assessed value of this park was only $8.1 million but the out of state company bought it for almost 25 million. It was impossible for the community to match this price. Current law says the park seller must make a public notice that the park is for sale, with any reasonable offers received, with the state DHCD, the locality, and the park residents. However, Owners do not publicize the sale until after they have signed a contract with a buyer that includes a penalty clause. HB1397 would eliminate the penalty amount from the match and would require the seller to negotiate in good faith with a tenant offer. HB1397 will make a huge impact for mobile home residents. This bill will give a chance to members to keep their homes affordable and protect them from displacement due to redevelopment or rent hikes. Thank you.