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The $1.7 Million capital campaign for the new 21,000 sq.ft. manufactured housing museum, (Which will reside at the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum) is off to a tremendous start. According to Hall of Fame president Darryl Searer, “The Hall of Fame has written in their by-laws that the organization will never again incur any debt, so we are committed to raising one hundred percent of the funds up-front.” With kick-off donations from Clayton Homes ($300,000), Cavco Industries ($100,000), the Manufactured Housing Institute ($50,000), the MMH & RVCA Michigan Association ($50,000), and dealer/developer/dedicated board member Jim Scoular ($50,000); the funding [...]

From June through November 2020, WISCAP’s network, in partnership with the state, distributed over $28 million in rental assistance through the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program (WRAP). Now, given additional federal funds, WISCAP and its statewide network is helping to get Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) to those in need which INCLUDES lot rent and any housing-related utilities (water, trash, energy, etc.) included in the tenant’s lease agreement and paid to the landlord can be covered. The Frequently Asked Questions gives an overview of the WERA program and eligibility guidelines. This is a great information to provide to your tenants. Tenants need to [...]

The Senate Banking Committee last week approved the nomination of Representative Marcia Fudge to be HUD Secretary. Fudge’s nomination will now go before the full Senate for a vote. During her nomination hearing, Fudge called manufactured housing an “outstanding option,” and she touted its affordability and efficiency. She told the Senate Banking Committee that she is “100 percent supportive” of looking at incorporating manufactured housing into the Department’s affordable housing strategies. Fudge also told the Committee that addressing exclusionary zoning is a priority. Click here to view Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) questioning HUD Secretary Nominee Marcia Fudge about manufactured housing. [...]

Following years of research, seeking input from the industry, and negotiating potential changes on Capitol Hill, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has finalized and published the most significant update to the HUD Code in roughly 10 years. Revisions to the HUD Code determine the construction and safety standards of manufactured homes, and the rule changes touch on a dozen sections of the code, from data plates to home ventilation. Below provides a brief summary of the changes and will point to the public record for further reading and contemplation. HUD Final Rule Published The final rule issued [...]

The 2020 Wisconsin Rent Certificate form can be found on the Forms and Tools page under Community Owner Resources. A rent certificate is a form that the landlord fills out as proof of the rent a tenant paid during 2020. A tenant who qualifies for the Wisconsin Homestead Credit will require one of these forms. Landlords need to read the instructions carfully and only fill out the sections required. Rent Certificates cannont have any whiteout or erasures. The form must be signed by the landlord and given to the tenant. If you have any questions about the form, contact the WI [...]

Amy Bliss started working for WHA 30 years ago this month. She has worn “many hats” including Accounting Assistant, Deputy Director and has been the WHA Executive Director since 2016. Way to go, Amy! She was also the previous Executive Director of Tomorrow’s Home Foundation and is currently serving on the Board. Amy was instrumental in starting the Foundation in 1999, which has provided critical home repairs to many manufactured homeowners in Wisconsin. Amy is a leader and well respected by her peers at other state associations. She has received awards for the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) State Executive Director [...]

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released updated guidance on mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The guidance is intended to be used for employers and workers to help identify risks of being exposed to and of contracting COVID-19 in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement. This guidance is not a standard or regulation and it creates no new legal obligations. To view the updated guidance, click here.

To keep the importance of funding for rental assistance at the top of policymakers’ minds, please click and share the link below. It will quickly and easily allow you to contact your Members of Congress and remind them that federal funding for rental assistance – not an extension of the eviction moratorium -  is the right way to support the nation’s residents, housing providers, and the rental housing market. Click here to send your letter.

In mid November the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced its 2021 requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, with several changes in the mix for manufactured housing. FHFA set lending caps for each of the Enterprises at $70 billion for the year, for a total of $140,000 billion in volume, a reduction of $60 billion. The schedule for the lowered loan volume cap is for the four quarters of 2021, rather than the five-quarter schedule implemented in previous years. “Multifamily housing is a critical component of the nation’s housing supply and especially of its affordable housing stock. As we continue to [...]

Arthur J. “Art” Decio, an Elkhart-born businessman and philanthropist who was never happier than when he was helping others, died peacefully at home on Friday, November 6, 2020 surrounded by beloved family and friends. He was 90. Decio, a man dedicated to his family, faith and the welfare of everyone whose life he could touch, was an Elkhart original.  A first generation American, he became one of the most successful businessmen in Indiana via Skyline Corporation, a mobile home and recreational vehicle company. Decio appeared on the cover of Time magazine in a 1965 article about successful businessmen under 40. [...]