The Beginning of VMHOA

It all started with a resident association. Tall Timbers Mobile Park, located in the town of Hartford had an organization in place in 1989 and association members volunteered to contact by post card, residents of mobile parks in Vermont announcing a meeting to be held in White River Junction for the purpose of forming a mobile home organization. They did and we did and it happened. We gathered and elected a slate of officers and directors. There were people in attendance from Colchester, Burlington, Brattleboro, Barre, Randolph, Montpelier and various other Vermont towns.

We had the support of CVOEO in the form of a formidable helper by the name of Kirby Dunn. Kirby was at our side every step of the way helping with everything from our by-laws to our newsletters and meeting places. The organization was strong, and the representation at hearings on the proposed legislation was excellent. Many, many people attended those hearings and testified before the various committees.

Before VMHOA there were no laws to protect people who own their homes and rent the land they sit on, in Vermont.

Successful legislation which VMHOA has initiated include the following:

• Annual mobile home lot rent increases limited to once a year tied to the % of CPI(Consumer Price Index plus 1%.
  
• Registration of mobile home parks by park owners, with a fee per lot accessed to be placed in a mediation fund.
  
• Lot rent increase dispute mediation bill.
  
• Park owner required to notify residents by registered mail of sale or closing of a mobile park.
  
• Right of first refusal to park residents when a park is being placed for sale.
  
• Increase of the minimum notice period for closing a park to eighteen months.

New members are needed to swell our ranks and make us a viable entity when approaching the legislature about new mobile home legislation. Remember the motto: TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG.

As each successive legislature is seated we need to educate the new members and refresh the memory of those returning to the needs of this group of people some 45,000 strong.

Affordable housing is a real problem in Vermont, mobile home parks are a partial solution. Vermont is not known for lots of high paying jobs, people in lower and lower middle income brackets cannot afford homes that cost 150,000.00 or more. A mobile home located in a park allows a family to own their own home while paying rent for the lot it sits on, and is within the income levels for the above mentioned people and those on fixed incomes, while affording a safe alternative for older citizens living alone.