BACKGROUND
There are approximately 1,000 mobile homes in Richmond, where residents face extremely poor conditions. In Fall 2021, RISC members living in mobile homes shared their housing concerns. They discussed the lack insulation of insulation in their homes, and the extreme temperatures they face in the summer and winter. In addition, many deal with collapsed roofs, walls, and floors, along with flooding and leakage. These are living conditions that no one should have to face. To better understand this problem, view this video that RISC members put together for our Nehemiah Action 2023.
RISC voted to begin working on this problem in 2021, and began researching the topic. We found that there are 7 mobile home parks in the city of Richmond, and about 5,000 people are living in these homes. Additionally, a study conducted by the Manufactured Homes Community Coalition enlightened us to various facets of the problem. One concern that was addressed in this study was Richmond's lack of a comprehensive plan for these mobile homes. Ensuring that there is a plan to protect mobile home communities, both from these horrible conditions and the threat of redevelopment, will lead to healthy homes in our city.
Paulina Chavez speaks about the housing conditions she faces. A repaired mobile home in Richmond.
OUR SOLUTION
After our research and hearing the stories of our congregation members, we wanted to help residents and address their housing conditions. We identified a mobile home repair and replacement program that would alleviate the issues. This program would be modeled after existing critical home repair programs (such as those operated by Project Homes and Rebuilding Together). With the help of critical home repair experts, we determined that 18 homes could be repaired or replaced with $300,000. Our plan is to continue asking our public officials to invest in healthy homes through allocations of the city budget.
Project Homes has taken on mobile home repairments in our city, and has improved the lives of many residents. Their work includes replacing roofs, walls, and other home structures. Project Homes focuses on improving home quality, safety, and accessibility. Read more about what they do here.
WHERE WE ARE
In Spring 2022, as a result of our Nehemiah action that year and good follow-through, we got City Council to amend the budget to include $300,000 for the mobile home repair and replacement program.
However, in March 2023, we discovered that the city was not releasing the funds, so we organized. RISC members turned out to four City Council meetings (twice with 150 members!) and garnered the attention of the news. On March 27, 2023, the day prior to our Nehemiah Action, pressure was high on the city to release the funds. City Council acted, coming to a consensus to direct staff to release the funds immediately to Project Homes. The program started in June 2021, and 21 homes were repaired.
On March 28, 2023, we held our Nehemiah Action. Four Councilmembers attended (Robertson, Lynch, Addison, and Lambert), along with 1,172 RISC members. They committed to support passage of $500,000 in the FY 2024 budget to continue this program. At our Nehemiah Action in 2024, we asked for 2 million dollars towards mobile home repair and replacement in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Councilmembers Robertson, Lynch, Addison, and Lambert said yes, but later, the allocation was cut to $800,000. To our knowledge, the funding that Councilmembers committed to at the 2023 and 2024 Nehemiah Actions has not been released to repairing mobile homes.
The Mayoral Candidates Forum is coming up on August 29th, where we hope to secure mayoral candidates' support for this issue. We want to ensure the healthy homes funding is utilized, and we'll be seeking additional funding for this program, as the problem is far greater than the funds allocated thus far can address.
RECORDINGS OF KEY EVENTS IN OUR HEALTHY HOMES CAMPAIGN
Click here to view the Affordable & Healthy Homes portion of our Nehemiah Action 2023.
Click here to view the Affordable & Healthy Homes portion of our Nehemiah Action 2024.