Foundation of Hope 11/22

This week has been a big one for progress, and so much work has gone into fighting for real change for tenants. First and foremost, thank you to everyone who is actively helping make things right. They say it takes a village to raise a child — but to fix the issues in a manufactured home park? It takes an entire network of people, organizations, agencies, and most importantly, the voices of tenants who refuse to be ignored.

This week, we officially filed our class action lawsuit against Hoffman Homes regarding taxes. More updates on that will be coming soon.

We also had the honor of meeting with the State Attorney General, who came out to hear directly from us about the issues we’re facing. This meeting is one of many first steps toward building a strong, statewide network of people dedicated to protecting tenants and ensuring we’re never fighting these battles alone. Together, we are creating the connections, partnerships, and support systems needed to uplift every manufactured home community.

People often call manufactured housing “affordable,” but is it truly affordable when landlords raise the lot rent by 5.98% every single year, while we still have to pay taxes on top of that? When the cost of living continues to rise — heating bills, propane, gas, groceries — and when the same landlord who rented you the land also sold you a home that wasn’t installed correctly, creating a whole new list of problems? That’s not affordability. That’s hardship dressed up with a nicer word.

We’re stuck in the middle — not treated as real homeowners because we get none of the protections or benefits, and not treated as renters because the laws don’t fully protect us either. Yes, New York State has better laws than many places, but there are still too many loopholes that park owners take advantage of. And we’re here to close them.

To make change, we have to work within the system, break down barriers, and stand together. Not just Hoffman tenants, but every manufactured home tenant in this state — because the stories we’ve heard from other parks are just as painful, and sometimes worse. For too long, tenants have counted themselves out before the fight even started. Fear has always lived in manufactured parks because landlords use threats of eviction like a weapon.

So how do we push back against fear? By informing tenants of their rights. By educating, uniting, and turning one voice into many. By standing shoulder to shoulder and taking back what was taken from us.

To every tenant — here or in another park — staying silent changes nothing. Your voice is the most powerful tool you have. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s choosing to speak and stand anyway.

If one person can make a difference, imagine what all of us can do together.

We need to keep educating inspectors, town and county officials, state leaders, assembly members, and senators about why these issues matter. We’re not here to tear the system down — we’re here to build it into something fair, equal, and safe for tenants. Clean water, safe homes, and freedom from threats or harassment shouldn’t be a battle. They should be a basic right.

Your Tenant Board is here to fight for you — every issue, big or small. And we won’t rest until every one of you can say your home is once again your safe haven.

Hope isn’t just a feeling — it’s the foundation of change. And together, we’re building something better.