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Format:
Print
Author:
Hamshaw, Kelly A.
Dept./Program:
Community Development and Applied Economics
Year:
2011
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
Mobile home parks are an important yet understudied form of affordable housing in rural communities whose value can often be overlooked by planners, housing advocates, and local governments. Parks are often seen as a vestige of a previous age and are laden with negative associations. Derogatory phrases like "trailer trash" or beliefs that only the "nearly dead or newly-wed" live in parks contribute to the low status of the mobile home park as an option for affordable housing. In addition to challenges presented by social stigmatization of park life, expensive infrastructure issues, particularly in older parks, threaten the financial viability and safety of mobile home parks.
In Vermont, loss of these parks has contributed to a shortage of affordable housing. Over the past decade, 14 parks have been closed in the state representing 110 lots. With each park closing, affordable options for Vermont's mobile home residents become fewer and fewer. As this trend continues, it is important to better understand the role of mobile home parks in Vermont's affordable housing landscape by investigating how residents perceive their experiences and by exploring strategies for developing resident participation within park communities.
The first article presents the findings from 256 resident surveys completed in nine mobile home park communities in rural and suburban areas near Burlington, Vermont between 2007 and 2009. The survey explored resident demographics as well as resident perceptions regarding park life, quality of their housing, and interest in developing resident associations. Demographic data inc!uding income, education, household size, and employment status was collected. The survey found that many residents are very satisfied with their housing-often emphasizing the importance of having control over' "my own four walls."
Bi-variate analysis found significant differences regarding resident satisfaction with park management between non-profit owned parks and investor owned parks; residents in the nonprofits reported much less satisfaction compared to residents from the investor-owned parks. Significant differences were also found when comparing how residents rated the social atmosphere of the parks. These findings provide a window into the challenges and opportunities offered by mobile home park communities and closes with areas for future.
The second article details experiences and lessons learned from a community based research process involving three mobile home park communities within a rural town in Addison County, Vermont. The process was originally initiated to increase the participation of park residents in town planning efforts. A long-term partnership between the town, faculty and students from the University of Vermont and staff at the Mobile Home Project, the statewide advocacy organization for park residents, led to resident surveys and community forums in each of the three parks. Despite few significant differences found between the parks by the survey, one community proved to be particularly motivated to launch into action from the research. A model for describing the Starksboro resident organizing process is presented as well as lessons learned about engaging mobile home park communities in community-based research with the goal of resident organizing.