Report examines public health impacts for tenants in Homes of America manufactured housing

PESP-allied organization Health in Partnership (formerly Human Impact Partners) has released a new report titled Home Sick: Uncovering the health harms in Homes of America’s  manufactured housing communities. Co-authored by the nonprofit organizations MHAction and Health in Partnership, the report investigates the public health implications of Homes of America’s manufactured home ownership practices, as indicative of broader national trends in corporate ownership of manufactured housing parks and other types of housing.

Homes of America, which is owned by the hedge fund Alden Global Capital, began a manufactured housing buying spree in 2021. The company now owns at least 144 manufactured home communities, most of which are in Florida, Michigan, and Illinois.

Home Sick follows PESP and MHAction’s September 2024 report Vulture Wars: Alden Global Capital’s Assault on Manufactured Home Community Residents. Vulture Wars set the stage for further research by detailing Alden’s history of high rent increases, evictions, and financial and legal retaliation. 

While authoring the report, HIP conducted in-depth interviews with twenty residents of Homes of America parks. They also extensively examined public records, including housing code inspections in 10 communities. In doing so, it became clear that unhealthy conditions in these communities lead to serious public health impacts.

The report found the following widespread public health-related issues:

• Poor drinking water quality: Several Homes of America communities were found in violation of water quality standards by regulatory agencies. Potential contaminants, like lead and bacteria, may have contributed to residents’ gastrointestinal health and skin issues. All residents interviewed have resorted to buying bottled water to protect their health and described the financial burdens associated with purchasing water and repairing appliances and fixtures damaged by the water supply.
• Water shutoffs: Some communities experienced sporadic water shutoffs lasting hours to days or weeks. The shutoffs left most residents interviewers spoke to without consistent access to water.
• Water and sewage infrastructure failures: Water and sewage main breaks and leaks led to standing water which damaged homes and contributed to mold growth and mosquito infestation.
• Vacant homes and debris:  Unoccupied homes and piles of trash around communities created safety hazards and attracted pests, rodents, and stray animals.
• Broken and barricaded roads: Poor road conditions likely increased risks and injuries from trips and falls, particularly among elderly residents.
• Overgrown trees and brush: Trees, grass, and brush growing with little maintenance have fostered mosquito infestation, allergy exacerbation, and mold growth. Some residents described overgrown trees that have punctured their roofs and even fallen through homes, contributing to mold growth and respiratory health conditions.
• Neglected community amenities: Community amenities like swimming pools and clubhouses have been closed. Residents reported how these closures have limited opportunities for exercise and socializing with neighbors, which have important impacts on their wellness.
• Additional hazardous living conditions among renters: Residents who rented their homes from Homes of America described a range of habitability issues in their homes: nonfunctional kitchen appliances, heating and air conditioning issues, leaks and mold growth, and structurally unsound walls and floors, which likely worsened food insecurity, respiratory health and mental health.

The report also makes a number of recommendations, including strengthening housing standards, protecting residents from exploitation, promoting and resourcing community-friendly ownership, and addressing the root cause of public health risks by limiting corporate speculation. 

“With rising costs of living and growing housing insecurity straining millions of Americans, this is the moment to treat housing as a fundamental right and building block of community health, not a commodity exploited for profit,” HIP asserts.