Formed in 1980, APAC first worked to eliminate no-cause eviction and to create new storm shelter standards. These efforts eventually led to a special section of state law for manufactured home parks (Minnesota Statute 327C), providing numerous resident rights and protections. Currently, APAC is developing strategy for our top priorities for the 2014 Legislative Session as selected by members at our October 12 Annual Meeting.
Lift the cap on Relocation Trust Fund benefits
Extend mandatory background checks for apartment managers to cover park managers
Classify manufactured homes as real property
Manufactured Housing Metering and Fairness in Utility Billing Act
What is All Parks Alliance for Change? - All Parks Alliance for Change is the statewide organization representing Minnesota’s 180,000 manufactured (mobile) home park residents. APAC works with residents to improve the quality of life in park neighborhoods, protect the rights of the residents, advance public policy change, and preserve this vital source of affordable housing.
Who lives in Manufactured Housing? - There are over 900 licensed parks located in nearly all 87 counties. Our households are one out of every 20 households in the state. We are long-time, self-sufficient home owners with nearly 90 percent of us owning our homes and renting the ground underneath the home. Over 40 percent of us have lived in the same home for more than 10 years. Although 80 percent of us are considered low- to very-low income (according to Housing and Urban Development guidelines), our housing is completely unsubsidized and, in fact, there are more units of affordable housing in Minnesota park communities than all the project-based HUD subsidized units and rural development units combined.
Lift the cap on Relocation Trust Fund benefits
Classify manufactured homes as real property
APAC is the statewide organization representing Minnesota’s 180,000 manufactured (mobile) home park residents. Our families live in over 900 licensed parks spread throughout nearly all 87 counties. They are one out of every 20 households in the state. They are long-time, self-sufficient home owners with nearly 90 percent owning their homes, over 40 percent living in the same home for more than 10 years, and none of them receiving any housing subsidies. Despite 80 percent being considered low- to very-low income (according to Housing and Urban Development guidelines), their housing is completely unsubsidized and, in fact, there are more units of affordable housing in Minnesota parks than there are HUD subsidized units and rural development units combined.
Lift the cap on Relocation Trust Fund benefits
Stop cities from charging park residents more for water service than other home owners
Extend mandatory background checks for apartment managers to cover park managers
Establish Alternative for Dispute Resolution
Video explaining alternative for dispute resolution
Increase Relocation Compensation from the MN Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund
Require Park Manager Background Checks
See the Bill Fact Sheets.
See the 2007 Legislative Agenda
Park residents, this is your time to tell your elected officials to value your home and your community. Come to the State Capitol on March 6th to rally with other residents to stand up for your rights.
Watch the short videos below to listen to park residents talk about lobby day and the 2009 legislative agenda.
Agenda
Registration: 10:00-10:15
Lobby Day Training: 10:15-10:45
Rally for Residents' Rights: 10:45-11:15
Visits with Legislators: 11:30-12:30
Lunch: 12:30-1:00
Bus/Van Departure: 1:30
Transportation
To arrange transportation to the Capitol, please call 651-644-5525 or 866-361-0173. Space is limited so call early!
The Capitol complex is north of I-94, just minutes from downtown St. Paul. It is accessible from the east and west on I-94, and from the north and south on I-35E.
Parking
For information about last year's lobby day, click here.
Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria
The remains of Shady Lane Mobile Home Park are a daily reminder of the effects of park closings. That is why residents from many manufactured home parks across the state met in the Bloomington library which is located next to where Shady Lane once stood. They met to address what state laws they want change and how that can be APAC’s legislative agenda for this year. Residents from Bloomington, Redwing, Shakopee, Rosemount, Inver Grove Heights, St. Anthony and Chisago City discussed the importance of having statewide relocation compensation so residents who would be affected by park closings in the state of Minnesota would be protected. Residents also talked about the importance of extending the timeline from 45 to 90 days that currently is in place for residents to exercise the right of first refusal, which gives residents the option to purchase their park in case it is being closed for redevelopment within one year of the park purchase. Residents strongly agreed that these were the two things that they wanted to change and they would like to see APAC pursue these changes in this legislative session. Residents also expressed concerns regarding the increase of lot rent over the few years which creates a financial hardship on many park residents that are on a fixed income. They felt that rent increases do not justify the lack of maintenance done in their communities and that this should be something that residents and APAC should address to change in the future.
At this legislative summit residents determined what changes need to happen so residents can have a voice. At the Mobile Justice Leadership Conference, held a couple of weeks later in the city of St. Anthony, park leaders gained the tools and strategies to make this happen. Leaders learned about building power within their communities, how to talk to legislators and elected officials, and how to get people from their parks involved in their resident associations. Residents engaged the presenters as well as fellow park residents and challenged others to build power within their communities. Many residents left the conference with the feeling of empowerment and excitement because they were learning how they can achieve Mobile Justice.
These proposals have the support of AARP, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, Housing Preservation Project, Legal Services Advocacy Project, Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH), Minnesota Association of Cooperatives, Minnesota Housing Partnership, and Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund, among others.
For more information or to become involved, call APAC at (651) 644-5525 or (866) 361-2722
August 18, 2007
Come to our Annual Meeting and help set the legislative agenda for 2008!
In the past year, APAC has experienced much progress we would like to celebrate. The victories have been invigorating and empowering, making all of us excited for the possibilities the future holds for Mobile Justice. This is why we are inviting you to come to the Annual Meeting and Legislative Summit, where we will celebrate our advancements, reflect, and outline where we want APAC to go from here. We would love for you to come and tell us your vision, concerns and ideas. Have your voice heard!
Schedule:
10:30-12:30 Annual Meeting
12:30-?? BBQ & Celebration
Where:
Theodore Wirth Park Picnic Pavilion
3201 Glenwood Avenue North
Minneapolis MN 55422
You can expect a few things to happen at the meeting in addition to a BBQ and a great time:
Take I-94W. Merge onto I-394 W. Exit Penn Ave, Exit 7. Take a Right onto S Penn Ave. Turn Left onto Glenwood Ave. Follow signs to Pavilion!