There is lots of talk these days about the need for more low-income affordable housing in the Southern California region. It is important to recognize the difference between “low-income” housing and “affordable” housing.
Low-income housing is subsidized by the government. There are several projects throughout the region that are monitored by local government housing authorities. An on-line search or call to the regional housing authorities will provide a list of available low-income housing rental units. Some are for veterans, seniors and others for all-ages. There are also low-income for-sale housing projects sponsored by housing authorities and by organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
In these low-income housing developments, renters or home buyers must meet strict income guidelines. Only low-income can qualify to live in these developments.
The income is determined by the income of individuals or families, and includes funds in the bank and investments.
Affordable housing, on the other hand, is not limited to low-income renters or purchasers. There is no limit to the amount of income a person or family has. It is their choice to live in the available affordable housing. Apartments, condominiums, and mobile home parks/manufactured housing communities are generally considered affordable housing stock
in the various individual jurisdictions’ housing plans. However, the location of the housing also dictates the cost. The same apartment or mobile home will sell/rent for far different rates on the beach vs. inland, as an example.
Mobile home Parks/Manufactured Housing Communities, offer a lifestyle choice that attracts a wide range of renters and home buyers. Mobile Home Park residents are both home owners and renters. They own the mobile home or manufactured home and rent the site or lot within a Mobile Home Park for their home. The Park is a little city that provides all of the services and facilities to the renters of individual home sites. The owner of the Park is responsible, just like a city, to maintain the streets, utility systems, public areas facilities, and amenities.
Living in Mobile Home Park is a lifestyle choice, not necessarily an income driven decision. Residents living in Parks may be high income retirees or may have moderate incomes. Many Mobile Home Parks are senior housing communities and attract seniors who are down-sizing after selling a home.
Other Parks are attractive to families because, unlike an apartment and many condominiums, most lots/sites rented in a Mobile Home Park have yards, patios, and parking spaces adjacent to the home. In addition, these communities often offer many amenities such as a clubhouse and pool, which are attractive to both seniors and families.
There is no doubt that the cost of housing in many areas of Southern California is higher than many other regions. Inland counties such as Riverside and San Bernardino, a region referred to as the Inland Empire, offer considerably more reasonable housing than most areas of coastal Orange County, as an example. While rents in a typical Orange County Mobile Home Park may be over $1,200 a month, a similar Park in areas of the Inland Empire monthly rents are as low as $600.
Living in a mobile home park provides a unique lifestyle for all ages and all income groups