Manufactured Housing Research Articles

Home thermal security, energy equity and the social production of heat in manufactured housing

This article contributes to theoretical understandings of the relationships among extreme heat vulnerability, energy equity and home thermal security (HTS) – the ability to maintain a home thermal environment consistent with basic health, social and financial needs. Based on three years of mixed-methods qualitative research among social service practitioners, landlords and residents of mobile and manufactured housing (MH) communities, we argue that thermal insecurity is a socially produced, rather than intrinsic, feature of MH. We use the thermal struggles of MH residents to illustrate how gaps in research, markets, landlord-tenant law, policy, and specific government programs overlap to produce MH as a site of hyper-exclusion from many tools used to mitigate and adapt to climate risk. We find that most MH residents, despite barriers and a warming climate, are able to maintain some level of HTS. We highlight the small-scale, improvisational strategies that households use to cope and adapt to the extreme temperatures. HTS is an achievement sustained by a variety of elements that cannot be reduced to simple metrics (e.g., presence of air conditioning). We conclude with a practical set of policy recommendations as well as a call for an expansive “climate finance” that includes the improvisational practices of excluded groups as innovations worth learning from and investing in.

Real Property Supremacy: Manufactured Housing and the Limits of Inclusion through Finance

Manufactured housing (MH) communities have emerged as a high-profile and lucrative asset class. Despite this, it is costly or impossible to get loans to buy homes in most mobile home parks. This article explores this ostensible contradiction—that whereas MH parks are desirable and liquid assets, the individual homes that compose them are not. We explore the implications of this contradiction for housing justice as well as financial and environmental vulnerability. We argue that the marginality of MH in U.S. housing markets is rooted in the privileging of real property above personal property. We describe the origins and impacts of this “real property supremacy” in two parts. In the first, we outline the macro-historical context of real property supremacy using a variety of sources, including interviews with federal officials and industry experts as well as document analysis. In the second, we connect this macro context to its micro consequences, drawing on interviews with MH residents, nonprofit and social-service practitioners, and park managers and owners in Tucson, Arizona. We conclude that state-supported property hierarchies create conditions where constrained housing options, semiformal financial practices, and unique tenure forms combine to (re)produce unique and intersecting forms of vulnerability in MH communities.

Why Do Planners Overlook Manufactured Housing and Resident-Owned Communities as Sources of Affordable Housing and Climate Transformation?

More Americans live in manufactured housing than in public and federally subsidized rental housing combined. Of the nearly 40,000 U.S. manufactured housing communities (MHCs), more than 1,000 are resident-owned communities (ROCs), a form of cooperative ownership. Yet planning research continues to neglect MHCs and ROCs, raising questions of classism and cultural bias. We address five common biases against MHCs and argue ROCs in particular deserve greater attention because they enable low-income people to improve their housing security in the face of financial and environmental vulnerabilities. Lessons from these efforts can help other alternative and collective housing providers do the same.

Personal, Not Real: Manufactured Housing Insecurity, Real Property, and the Law

Manufactured homes provide a critical source of affordable housing and are the primary source of low-income homeownership in the United States. Yet manufactured housing (MH) is both socially stigmatized and spatially marginalized, which translates to significant inequalities for MH residents. The law figures centrally into how MH is perceived and how it is located, segregated, and financed differently from other housing. This review explores how the law has treated MH with legal hybridity, as personal property similar to an automobile rather than real property like other forms of housing. This core legal distinction structures an array of zoning, financing, and policy provisions that together create a gulf between the opportunities available to conventional owners and renters and those available to residents of MH. I explore existing research on the outcomes of this disparate legal treatment to offer an agenda for future research on a broader range of housing insecurities.

Improvements in Financing Could Increase the Single-Family Affordable Housing Supply

The United States faces a shortage of housing supply, estimated to be millions of units. This shortage is especially acute in the affordable sector. Although the causes of the supply shortage are many, we focus on one major set of constraints: financing. In particular, we focus on how to improve financing for the three types of affordable single-family housing where we see the most potential: manufactured housing (MH), accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and housing preservation. We argue that these financing issues constrain production; improving financing will grow consumer demand for affordable housing and preservation and prompt builders and manufacturers to respond by increasing supply. Finally, we try to quantify the potential impact in each of these areas to increase housing supply. Overcoming these financing hurdles would remove a major roadblock facing MH, ADU, and housing preservation and allow for the addition of a significant number of units of affordable housing supply.

Resident-Owned Resilience: Can Cooperative Land Ownership Enable Transformative Climate Adaptation for Manufactured Housing Communities?

Residents of manufactured housing communities (MHCs) are disproportionately vulnerable to both hazards and displacement. The cooperative ownership model of resident-owned communities (ROCs) pioneered by ROC USA helps MHC residents resist displacement, but little research assesses how cooperative tenure impacts hazard vulnerability. To fill this gap, we conduct a spatial analysis of 234 ROC USA sites; analyze the co-op conversion process; and interview ROC USA staff, technical assistance providers, and resident co-op leaders. Although ROC USA communities, like other MHCs, face elevated exposure and sensitivity to hazards, we find that ROC USA’s model supports communities’ adaptive capacity by increasing access to financial resources, bridging formal and informal knowledge and skills, and improving social and institutional capacity. This networked cooperative model represents a scalable form of transformative adaptation by enabling low-income communities to address the underlying causes of uneven hazard vulnerabilities that are intensifying under climate change. We close with public policy and programmatic recommendations to enhance and expand this model.

Overview of the Characteristics of the Modular Industry and Barriers to its Increased Market Share

Modular and offsite construction approaches reduce project duration and cost by synchronizing offsite and onsite work. Project activities are undertaken in a controlled offsite facility to minimize the effects of inclement weather and site disruptions, while meeting safety and quality requirements. To study the characteristics of modular and offsite construction, questionnaires have been conducted during the last decade by many organizations, including the Modular Building Institute (MBI), the Buildoffsite campaigning organization in the United Kingdom, the Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute, the National Institute of Building Sciences, McGraw-Hill Construction, and the Fails Management Institute. This paper introduces comprehensive analysis of the results of a questionnaire survey carried out in collaboration between members of the Department of Building, Civil & Environmental Engineering at Concordia University, the Modular Building Institute, NRB Inc., and the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta. The questionnaire focuses on two issues: (1) the characteristics of the modular and offsite construction industry, and (2) the barriers against increased market share in this industry. For the latter, an effort was made to address a set of five factors identified in a workshop on the topic of challenges and opportunities for modular construction in Canada held in Montréal in 2015 to analyze barriers to growth of modular construction in the Canadian context. Key findings of this survey include requests for use of a separate building code for modular construction design, innovative financing and insurance solutions, standards that consider procurement regulations, and for financial institutions to create lending programs suited for modular construction.

Erratum for “Unpacking Tornado Disasters: Illustrating Southeastern US Tornado Mobile and Manufactured Housing Problem Using March 3, 2019 Beauregard-Smith Station, Alabama, Tornado Event” by Stephen M. Strader, David B. Roueche, and Brett M. Davis

Erratum for “Unpacking Tornado Disasters: Illustrating Southeastern US Tornado Mobile and Manufactured Housing Problem Using March 3, 2019 Beauregard-Smith Station, Alabama, Tornado Event” by Stephen M. Strader, David B. Roueche, and Brett M. Davis

Unpacking Tornado Disasters: Illustrating Southeastern US Tornado Mobile and Manufactured Housing Problem Using March 3, 2019 Beauregard-Smith Station, Alabama, Tornado Event

AbstractThis study illustrates and describes how Southeast US tornado disasters commonly unfold by examining the 2019 Beauregard-Smith Station, Alabama, tornado event from spatiotemporal and struct...

Structural Forces: Perception and Vulnerability Factors for Tornado Sheltering within Mobile and Manufactured Housing in Alabama and Mississippi

AbstractSoutheastern U.S. mobile and manufactured housing (MH) residents are the most tornado-vulnerable subset of the population because of both physical and socioeconomic factors. This study builds upon prior MH resident tornado vulnerability research by statistically and geographically analyzing responses from a survey administered to these residents in the Southeast. Specifically, 257 Alabama and Mississippi MH residents were administered a survey with questions pertaining to their perceived tornado risk and vulnerability, protective action and decision-making, and beliefs about the structural integrity of their homes. Results indicate that, despite the weather and emergency management enterprises consistently suggesting that MH residents evacuate their homes for sturdier shelter during tornado events, more than 50% of MH residents believe their homes are safe sheltering locations. The prevalence of larger MHs in northern Alabama partially influences willingness to shelter within one’s MH, while higher levels of negative affectivity stemming from recent impactful tornadoes in northern Alabama influences people to evacuate their MHs for safety. Study findings also uncovered a perception and vulnerability paradox for these residents: Those who have the means to evacuate their MH often feel they have no need to do so, whereas those who recognize the potential peril of sheltering in their home and want to evacuate often lack the resources and/or self-efficacy to carry out more desirable sheltering plans. Overall, study results provide valuable information for National Weather Service forecasters, emergency managers, and media partners so that they may use it for public outreach and MH resident education.

Stable relationality and dynamic innovation: two models of collaboration in SME-driven offsite manufacturing supply chains in housing construction

PurposeThe study analyses collaborative practice in offsite manufacturing (OSM) housing supply chains, focusing specifically on supply chains driven by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The study’s analysis builds on previous work where we argued that collaboration in OSM housing construction comprises nine elements. In this study, the authors demonstrate empirically that SMEs enact these collaborative practice elements in distinct ways, foregrounding key elements over others. One core model and two sub-models of collaboration emerge from our two case studies.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyses two SME-driven supply chains using qualitative case study techniques. Data were gathered through 12 semi-structured interviews conducted in two housing construction supply chains: one in South Australia, Australia, and another in Tasmania, Australia.FindingsA comparative case study of SMEs shows that collaboration in OSM supply chains has a number of common elements, including a champion for innovation, investment in long-term relationships, resourceful use of limited assets and physical co-location. However, SMEs can also enact these elements through a range of diverging collaborative strategies that can be distilled into different models: stable relationality and dynamic innovation.Originality/valueFindings provide a compelling empirical basis for arguing that SMEs can successfully lead OSM supply chains if key collaborative practice elements are strategically mobilised in ways that are suited to their strengths and limitations. The study therefore interrogates the widely held and often limiting assumption that OSM can only be driven by large organisations with access to capital assets, capacity to invest and undisputed bargaining power.

Del Sistema al Prototipo y viceversa (el caso de la GBH + INVISO)

La mayoría de las viviendas industriales famosas del SXX no son solo eso (prototipos individuales): forman parte de un sistema general de grado muy superior para ponerlo a prueba. Se demuestra en este artículo como el recorrido en esta clase de concepción productiva no se efectúa “desde el prototipo al sistema” por una simple adición del modelo; al contrario, estos prototipos resultan del camino inverso, para luego sí, servir como feed-back. 
 
 Se muestran 5 antecedentes históricos dentro de este recorrido, y se analizan más a fondo el Primer premio del concurso INVIso y la casa GBH. De su estudio se derivan algunas conclusiones en cuanto a la relación entre la Teoría General de Sistemas y las premisas que la Industrialización Abierta confiere a los Sistemas construidos a partir de componentes compatibles (S.3c), como la flexibilidad, o el reciclaje, y la manera de conseguir que estas se cumplan mediante procedimientos probados.

Feasibility Study of Construction Project in Compliance with Bank Investment Supervision Requirements

On the basis of the 12-year author's practice of Bank Investment Supervision developed methodology significant construction projects risks have been identified and measured: risks of the highest impact values and risks of the biggest likelihood appearance. The research has been recorded in 400 - 450 reports of 42 investment projects in advanced manufacturing, commercial, residential, hotels and apartment housing sectors. At least one risk of the highest measured level of significance has been highlighted at each phase of investment process: design, construction and maintenance. A reasonable level of risks significance has been determined which stands for not more than 1/3 of possible significance in “risks monitoring” strategy. Engineering, Project and Construction Management (EPCM) approach to investment process and solid, consequent, regular construction projects monitoring executed by professional Banking Supervision Inspector (BSI) make possible to minimise any faults of inappropriate financing of construction projects.

Training for Manufactured Construction (TRAMCON) – Benefits and Challenges for Workforce Development at Manufactured Housing Industry

Manufactured Housing (MH) is the process of producing building units or entire buildings in an offsite factory and transporting them to the site for installation and assembly. The application of advanced manufacturing technologies into the housing process not only will increase productivity, but also can provide a safer work environment, stable work location, long-term growth opportunities, and career progression for employees. Today, the MH workforce is facing problems with worker quality and retention. The rising demand for MH indicates the need for training a multi-skilled labor force for this industry. This paper evaluates the essence of an educational program for MH industry and discusses the rationale for training the MH workforce in comparison to conventional training programs. In response to the stated problem of Inadequate training programs, the curriculum for Training Manufactured Construction (TRAMCON) was developed by the University of Florida and delivered throughout Florida by the TRAMCON Consortium. While the quantitative results in labor performance improvement in the factory plants have not yet been established, the major strengths and challenges of the program are discussed.

Modular Industry Characteristics and Barriers to its Increased Market Share

Modular and offsite construction reduces project duration and cost by synchronizing offsite and onsite work. Project activities are constructed in a controlled offsite facility to minimize effects of inclement weather and site disruptions, while meeting safety and quality requirements. In recent years, many organizations have conducted questionnaires to study characteristics of modular and offsite construction, such as the Modular Building Institute (MBI), Buildoffsite campaigning organisation in the UK, Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute (CMHI), National Institute of Building Sciences, McGraw-Hill Construction, and Fails Management Institute (FMI). This paper introduces a summary of results for a new questionnaire carried out in collaboration between the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering (BCEE) at Concordia University, MBI, Niagara Relocatable Buildings, Inc. (NRB) in Canada, and the Nasseri School of Building Science and Engineering at the University of Alberta. This questionnaire focuses on two issues: (1) the characteristics of the modular and offsite construction industry, and (2) detected barriers to the increased market share of this industry. For the latter, effort was made to address five factors emanated from a workshop on äóěChallenges and opportunities for modular construction in Canadaäóť held in Montreal in October 2015 to analyze barriers to growth of modular construction in Canada. Key findings of this questionnaire include requests for use of a separate code of modular construction design, innovative financing and insurance solutions, standards that consider procurement regulations, and lending institutions that partner with financial houses to create special lending programs for modular construction.

Zoned Out? North Carolina Manufactured Housing Parking Lot Rents

This paper explores determinants of manufactured housing park (MHP) plot rents in North Carolina, with particular focus on the distinction among urban, rural, and periurban and small town parks, and on the possible role played by zoning restrictiveness. Little is known about how MHP rents are determined, even though it is estimated that more than 10 million Americans live in MHPs. We find that, contrary to our expectations, zoning appears to be an unimportant factor in determining park rents, while location, adjacent home prices, and nearby HUD “fair market rent” values are all important – though not uniformly so.

Feasibility Study of construction project in compliance with Bank Investment Supervision requirements

On the basis of the 12-year author's practice of Bank Investment Supervision developed methodology significant construction projects risks have been identified and measured: risks of the highest impact values and risks of the biggest likelihood appearance. The research has been recorded in 400 - 450 reports of 42 investment projects in advanced manufacturing, commercial, residential, hotels and apartment housing sectors. At least one risk of the highest measured level of significance has been highlighted at each phase of investment process: design, construction and maintenance. A reasonable level of risks significance has been determined which stands for not more than 1/3 of possible significance in “risks monitoring” strategy. Engineering, Project and Construction Management (EPCM) approach to investment process and solid, consequent, regular construction projects monitoring executed by professional Banking Supervision Inspector (BSI) make possible to minimise any faults of inappropriate financing of construction projects.

Validation of an innovative viscoelastic treatment, integrated on a real vehicle mock-up for the internal vibro-acoustic improvement

The 'vibro-acoustic design' of the current and future means of transport is going to become one of the focal points of the technological and commercial challenges which will involve in the coming years the bigger manufacturing houses in the world stage. In this framework, the authors, following in-depth broad spectrum investigations, have designed and performed the mass-production of innovative viscoelastic foam to enhance the sound-absorbing performances better than the conventional trim treatments. Noise characterisation rational strategies for real vehicles have successfully confirmed the results already reached by laboratory tests on the stand-alone components. After a brief digression on the outcomes achieved in the previous works, in this context particular attention has been paid to the trim-layer assembly in view of the integration in the passenger's compartment for the vibro-acoustic qualification.

Validation of an innovative viscoelastic treatment, integrated on a real vehicle mock-up for the internal vibro-acoustic improvement

The 'vibro-acoustic design' of the current and future means of transport is going to become one of the focal points of the technological and commercial challenges which will involve in the coming years the bigger manufacturing houses in the world stage. In this framework, the authors, following in-depth broad spectrum investigations, have designed and performed the mass-production of innovative viscoelastic foam to enhance the sound-absorbing performances better than the conventional trim treatments. Noise characterisation rational strategies for real vehicles have successfully confirmed the results already reached by laboratory tests on the stand-alone components. After a brief digression on the outcomes achieved in the previous works, in this context particular attention has been paid to the trim-layer assembly in view of the integration in the passenger's compartment for the vibro-acoustic qualification.

Beyond Tragedy: Differential Commoning in a Manufactured Housing Cooperative

AbstractCaught between the dual crises of declining economic opportunity and diminishing public assistance, people on the economic margins resist threats to their livelihoods by opting to share resources. The processes involved in managing these “commons” are often messy and paradoxical amid differing livelihood concerns and subject positions. Unevenness tends to emerge along new and existing lines of power. Rather than reducing such tendencies to a “tragedy” to be eliminated, I argue that grappling with uneven relations offers a more dynamic account of commoning: “differential commoning”. This paper takes as its example the residents of a “manufactured housing” community who organized as a cooperative in response to the threat of eviction. Their struggle to collectivize, I suggest, illustrates the need for a more situated conceptualization of commoning, rather than a concept defined within the rigidity of economic rationality or the homogeneity of some imagined community.