New PRICE Act Creates Grants to Fix Up Mobile Home Parks, Prioritizing Long-Term Affordability

The Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement Act—or the PRICE Act—establishes a competitive grant program specifically aimed at upgrading manufactured housing communities. Essentially, the federal government is setting aside money to help fix up mobile home parks, but with a major catch: the communities must serve low- and moderate-income residents (defined as those making up to 120% of the area median income) and commit to keeping the housing affordable for the long haul.

Who Gets the Money and What Can They Do?

This isn't a simple handout; it’s a competitive program run by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The list of eligible applicants is broad, including local governments, housing authorities, non-profits, and, crucially, resident-owned groups and co-ops. This means the people who actually live there have a direct shot at securing funds to improve their own communities. The money can be used for a wide range of essential upgrades. Think fixing failing infrastructure, like water and sewer lines, improving shared community spaces, or making individual homes safer and more efficient. For example, a grant could fund weatherization projects, which means lower heating and cooling bills for residents—a huge win for people managing tight budgets—or installing ramps and other accessibility features for older residents or those with disabilities. The funds can also be used for resident services, such as eviction prevention assistance or down payment help, stabilizing the community beyond just the physical structures.

The Focus: Affordability and Safety

The core mission of the PRICE Act is to protect affordable housing. When the Secretary reviews applications, they are required to prioritize projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents the most and ensure that the housing remains affordable long-term. This focus is key because it aims to prevent investors from buying up these communities, making basic repairs, and then jacking up the rents, which often displaces the original residents. The bill is trying to lock in affordability so residents aren't constantly worried about being priced out of their homes.

There is one detail that affects some of the oldest homes: grant money cannot be used to modernize or rehabilitate manufactured homes built before June 15, 1976. If those older homes are removed, any replacements must meet modern safety standards. While this makes sense from a safety perspective—those pre-1976 homes often lack modern construction standards—it does mean that residents living in the oldest, potentially most substandard units may not see direct repair funds for their specific homes through this program.

The Fine Print: Waivers and Administration

Like any federal program, the Secretary gets some administrative flexibility. They can waive certain federal rules if it helps the program run smoothly. However, the bill explicitly prohibits waiving rules concerning fair housing, non-discrimination, labor standards, or environmental protections. This is a solid guardrail, ensuring that while the process might be streamlined, essential protections for workers and residents remain firmly in place. The overall goal here is to inject much-needed capital into a housing sector that often gets overlooked, improving living conditions and securing affordability for thousands of families.