Welcome to AMHO
The Association of Manufactured Home Owners (AMHO) is a state-wide non-profit organization of manufactured homeowners in Washington State. Our mission is to provide technical assistance and referral services, enroll members and help them organize homeowners‘ associations, and policy advocacy.
AMHO was formed in 2007, and has grown to a membership of over 500 residing in manufactured home communities state wide. AMHO has helped many manufactured housing communities to form their own home owner’s associations which can work to preserve their communities. AMHO actively works with elected officials advocating manufactured housing preservation legislation.
About Manufactured Housing
Manufactured housing is affordable housing which is vital to Washington State’s senior citizens and lower-income families and individuals. In the words of a Washington State legislator: Manufactured housing is “the last remaining form of non-subsidized affordable housing.”
- Eight percent of Washington residents live in manufactured housing.
- There are some 1800 manufactured housing communities throughout Washington.
The trouble for these home owners is, they own their home but they do not own the land upon which it is located — the lot or site is either leased or rented and so is subject at any time to redevelopment to other use.
Communities Under Threat
Year by year the number of these communities is dwindling due to closures and redevelopments of the properties for other uses. In 2007-8, across the state, 37 communities were closing, displacing hundreds of families, seniors and other residents! Often, these home owners have had to demolish their homes because there are no new locations for them to move their homes to!
The United Nations has declared Safe Affordable Housing Is A Basic Human Right!
Preservation Progress Has Been Made
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signs the
Manufactured Housing Community Preservation Act in March, 2008
thanks to advocacy by AMHO and other groups.
Latest News
Read about AMHO’‘s experience in the 2009 Legislative session
Download our August 2009 newsletter!
Next Newsletter will be published in December
- LATEST NEWS!*
AMHO HOLDS MANUFACTURED HOUSING LOBBY DAY IN OLYMPIA
NEXT MAJOR EVENT: HOUSING DAY IN OLYMPIA IS FEBRUARY 12th -Click the events tab
AMHO’S BOARD MEETINGS are held the second Wednesday of each month, members are invited and cordially urged to attend! Call 425-772-5174 for time and location.
MANUFACTURED HOUSING AGENDA FOR THE 2009-2010 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
In the 2010 legislative session three issues of Prime Importance to manufactured housing will be coming up: HB 1581/SB5550 – the two year closure notice bill; possible amendments to RCW 59.20 (the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Act); and support and preservation of the Attorney General’s Dispute Resolution Program RCW 59.30.
HB1581/SB5550 – The current 12 month notice of closure of Manufactured Home Parks is insufficient. People who own their homes need far more time to make serious life decisions about where They are going to move, especially when the decision is forced on them by their community owner. Many home owners invested their life savings to purchase their homes in a community. Now they simply do not have the resources to start over again. In the end, most people displaced from closing communities must destroy their homes, even while they are still paying off a mortgage. Please support the two year closure notice bill.
RCW 59.20 – The act is vague in many places and still doesn’t always provide enough protection to community residents. Both residents and park owners have been working on agreeing on language that will help make te act more fair and more clear. This will also help the AG’s office in resolving complaints under RCW 59.30. Please support changes to the language in RCW 59.20.
RCW 59.30 – It took 6 long years to create this program and put some teeth in the enforcement of RCW 59.20. Park owners continue to object to the AG enforcement rights created under RCW 59.30. Many community residents (and landlords) have benefited from RCW 59.30. Please do not support any efforts by the park owners to undermine or terminate RCW 59.30.
We all must begin now to speak with our respective legislators on these issues that we are passionate about. Effective actions are Hosting forums in your communities, talking to your legislators in person, sending them an email, calling them & telling your stories. Again, waiting until January is too late! – please engage your email tree, friends & neighbors and inform them – we can make a difference. First, You should inform yourself –and your neighbors, family and friends- of your legislators voting records on our issues, use it, contact them, inform them, Encourage them to support us, keeping in mind that these are non-partisan people issues. And thank those who have been in support of us. Voting records are available on the Washington legislature website and at Washington Votes website or contact the Legal Action Team. -Click the contacts tab at the top of the page.
Recent Park Closures: Snohomish County: Evergreen Estates: 43 spaces Manor Heights: 28 spaces Mariner Village: 165 spaces. Total spaces lost; 236!