CEDaR’s Community Engagement through CoCoMHO, with funding from The Colorado Health Foundation and other sources, seeks to support state and local policy development and community-based innovation to strengthen manufactured housing communities as a vital source of affordable housing in Colorado. The work of the Manufactured Housing Initiative occurs through class projects, internships and research involving CU Boulder faculty, student and community teams. Projects of the initiative include support for the development of the Colorado Coalition of Manufactured Home Owners (CoCoMHO); development of a clearinghouse website providing critical information for residents of manufactured housing communities; social and demographic research on the character of manufactured housing communities in Colorado; and Community Voices.
CEDaR’s work with the Colorado Coalition of Manufactured Home Owners (CoCoMHO) is helping renters and owners of manufactured housing in Colorado play an active role in policy discussions regarding protections of Colorado’s 900-plus mobile home parks. Manufactured home parks are the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the U.S. and are home to a large percentage of low-income Latino families, fixed income seniors and single parents. Evictions, unexpected rent increases, poor physical conditions and inadequate services threaten the mental and physical health of residents, and contribute to ongoing housing insecurity.