The November wildfires that ravaged Northern and Southern California took their place as among the worst natural disasters in the State’s history. The fires destroyed more than 125,000 acres of Northern California and also devastated the Southern part of the State, with a total death toll of at least 11: 9 in Northern California and two in Southern California. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported a loss of 6,522 residences, and a report issued by CoreLogic estimated that the total reconstruction cost value was approximately $18 billion.

As the campfires moved across the State, they displaced thousands of homeowners and renters, fueling the already pervasive housing shortage. According to a recent statement issued by the Executive Director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, “massive action” is required to address the shortage. With 1,500 homes destroyed in Southern California, more than 5,600 in Napa and Sonoma, and nearly 1,100 in Shasta, thousands are displaced. The Non-Profit Housing Association estimates that in order to rectify the shortage, 1.8 million homes are needed by 2025.

Because the fires ravaged some of the most expensive areas in the State, residents are facing a dilemma: rebuild (which would be extremely costly) or move on and look for more affordable housing elsewhere. This issue is particularly pronounced in places like the Town of Paradise in Northern California, a town of retirees who, on a fixed income, are realizing that they simply cannot afford to rebuild. 

This shortage is quickly becoming a statewide issue: In Butte County, there are no vacant rental properties left, and homes are selling for between $30,000 and $100,000 above asking price. Due to these rising costs and the discrepancy between supply and demand, the estimated 52,000 who’ve been evacuated and displaced have been taking up residence in hotels, shelters, and makeshift refugee camps.

Government Assistance through HUD

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced disaster relief measures for victims, specifically in Butte, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties, proposing the following measures:

• Providing foreclosure relief– HUD is imposing an automatic 90-day moratorium on foreclosures on FHA insured home mortgages. For assistance, call your loan servicer or FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320.
• Making mortgage insurance available– The section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims whose homes were destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction is necessary. Some borrowers from participating FHA lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing for new homes, including closing costs.
• Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation– The section 203(k) loan program allows those who’ve lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a home along with repair through one single mortgage, allowing those whose homes were damaged to finance the rehabilitation of their homes.
• Making information on housing providers and HUD programs widely available– HUD will share information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. HUD will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on other programs that HUD offers displaced homeowners.

Find more disaster resources from HUD and its partner agencies here.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Camp Fire in Paradise: How a Natural Disaster is Aggravating Housing Shortages in California appeared first on Other CMS.

The Need for Affordability

According to a recent PPIC study, there are more than ten million first-generation immigrants in California. In fact, California is home to more recent immigrants than any other state. The study notes that in 2016, 27% of California’s population was foreign-born. 

This population feeds a workforce that is critical to the economy of the state – and to the country. According to one source, immigrants make up 82% of workers in farming, fishing, and forestry; 67% of workers in building maintenance; 48% of construction; and 81% of maid and housekeeping services. 

The PPIC study also notes that while immigrants and American-born residents are equally likely to work, first-generation immigrants make less money; in families with foreign-born heads-of-the-household, the 2016 median income was 24% less than that of families with American-born heads-of-household. 

Affordable, safe and convenient housing for immigrants is important for both the welfare of these families as well as for the benefit of the many companies and organizations that rely on their labor.

Unfortunately, affordable and convenient housing options can be hard to come by, especially given the rising cost of rent on the West Coast. According to a recent Census, in California, the median monthly gross residential rent was close to $1,500 a month in 2017. This confirms that California remains among the most expensive places in the nation, making the provision of affordable housing particularly challenging – especially for a large and ever-growing population. 

The Need for Proximity and Support

For our many immigrant communities, affordability alone is not enough. Proximity to employment and/oraccess to public transportation are also important. 

Because many immigrant families also face language barriers, speaking Spanish as their primary language, it is important for them to live in communities that share a common cultural background. Also, according to data released by the Pew Research Center, in 2014, about a quarter of Hispanics lived in multi-generational homes. Pew acknowledged that Hispanic families are growing more rapidly than white families and as such, there is an increased need for housing to accommodate these large families.

Harmony Communities understands the unique needs of our Hispanic residents, and we strive to assist them in any and every way that we can. We employ Spanish-speaking staff in the main offices of our communities with a Hispanic presence and translate all notices, letters, and other resident communications into written Spanish. 

Having Spanish-speaking managers and staff onsite also enables Harmony Communities to assist its Spanish-speaking residents through the loan process. “We hold their hand through the entire process,” says Matthew Davies, CEO of Harmony Communities. “If they can’t get a bank loan, we find a way to fund their home purchase in-house.”

Going above and beyond to help our residents feel at home is what we stand for. It’s what we do.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post Affordable Housing for Immigrants appeared first on Other CMS.

Join us as we meet Doug and learn more about his work with WMA.

Where are you from? 

I was born and raised in Los Angeles but moved to Sacramento about 24 years ago to join the WMAteam.  

What is your educational and career background? 

I graduated from the University of Southern California, where I majored in political science. I was always interested in politics. After college, I worked for a California state senator and a U.S. congressman, but I have a strong background in local government — having served two members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. When WMA was looking for a regional representative for local government and public affairs, I knew I was interested. 

What does your job entail as a Regional Representative for WMA? 

There are three regional representatives for local government and public affairs within WMA. I represent Northern California and I have two colleagues who cover Central and Southern California. There are about 5,000 mobile home parks in California, so we are very busy. Our primary job is to defend against rent control — an enormously expensive, failed public policy.

What is the mission of WMA? What does the organization primarily do, and how does it help mobile home community owners?

WMA has been advancing and protecting the manufactured housing communities industry since 1945. We are one of the oldest, largest, and most respected nonprofit trade associations of our kind in the United States. We proudly represent our California members at the federal, state and local levels of government. WMA offers professional, comprehensive educational and advocacy services to our members.

What is the WMA Foundation? What kind of work does it do?

The WMA Foundation was founded in 2005. It is affiliated with WMA and funded by generous contributions from our members. Since its inception, it has provided assistance to more than 1,000 mobile home park residents and has given a total of $411,750. Our members really care about the folks that live in the communities they own and manage.

Recently, we provided checks to help more than 300 mobile home park residents who were displaced by the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise, California — a total of $75,250 in financial assistance was donated. These checks went directly to residents who literally lost everything. The Camp Fire is California’s deadliest, most destructive fire in state history. Weare so proud of the assistance our members were able to provide.

What are some gaps in the affordable housing landscape that WMA is seeking to address?

Affordable housing is definitely an issue in California. It’s very expensive to live in the Golden State. The median price for a traditionally built home now exceeds a whopping $600,000. Mobile home park living offers seniors, professionals and first-time homebuyers an attractive, attainable housing alternative.

According to the California Manufactured Housing Institute, the installation of a brand new two to three bedroom (1,700 sq. ft.) manufactured home costs approximately $142,000, and used homes are even less. Our industry is uniquely positioned to help California solve its housing crisis. Now is the time for the state to expand housing opportunities by removing barriers to expanding new parks, or building new ones.

Where can we learn more about WMA?

From announcements about HUD disaster relief assistance for homeowners impacted by the California fires to information on the Fee and Tax Waiver Program for unregistered mobile homes and other news, our websitehas lots of useful information. We also have a Resource Centeras well as a Facebookpage.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post The Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association: A Q&A with Doug Johnson, WMA’s Senior Regional Representative appeared first on Other CMS.

Affordability

Affordable housing options can be hard to come by, especially given the rising cost of rent on the West Coast. According to a recent census, in California, the average monthly gross residential rent was over $1,500 a month in 2017. 

In addition, the state’s population – particularly the aging population – is expected to grow exponentially. According to one source, California is expected to be one of the fastest growing states in the nation: In 2016, it comprised 12 percent of the nation’s population and is projected to increase by 30 percent by 2060. The same source notes that the number of those aged over 60 is projected to grow more than three times as fast as the overall population. The population of those aged over 85 will increase at an even faster rate, with an overall increase of nearly 490 percent by 2060.

The State’s climbing rents and the increasingnumber of seniors createa dangerous combination when it comes to affordable housing options. For many seniors, using a fixed income to pay steep rents leaves little to cover other essentials like groceries and medications. And the rising number of needy seniors combined with the scarcity of affordable housing options means many sit for years on the waiting lists for affordable housing communities. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a variety of resourcesto help seniors locate and afford housing. These resources include counseling agencies, legal assistance, and links to affordable senior housing communities. 

However, seniors need more than just affordability. Senior housing must also be:

• Safe and accessible for those who have physical challenges; 
• In close proximity to medical care; and
• Near public transportation.

In addition, many baby boomers have a desire to lessen their carbon footprint, so the ability to provide housing options that are sustainable is a plus. 

Here at Harmony Communities, it is our goal to provide everyone with safe, sustainable, affordable, attractive, and convenient housing. For the growing population of seniors in our state – and particularly for the senior residents that make up 50% of the tenants in our communities – we have and will continue to take special care to ensure that we meet those needs. 

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and individuals know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

The post The Unique Housing Needs of Seniors in California appeared first on Other CMS.