A resident of Blueberry Fields Cooperative tends to her lawn. Flax Studios photo
Residents of Blueberry Fields Cooperative, a manufactured home community in Brunswick, were at risk of losing their homes last year due to a proposed sale of the land that could have significantly increased lot rental fees.
Mobile home communities have long been one of the most affordable housing options in Maine. Today, there are nearly 480 of these communities that are home to more than 45,000 residents. Ownership and operation of Maine’s mobile home communities have shifted rapidly in recent years, from local ownership to out-of-state investors. Given that many mobile home residents own their homes but rent the land, they are especially vulnerable to lot price increases.
All over the country, outside investors have purchased mobile home communities and increased lot rents, which puts low income residents in jeopardy of losing their affordable homes. But thanks to collaboration by the Blueberry Fields Cooperative community and $26.3 million raised in just two months, residents were able to collectively purchase the land and maintain their homes. This success story was made possible in part by Genesis Community Loan Fund, which assisted the cooperative with a low-interest loan.
Now, MaineCF and Genesis have partnered to preserve at least 600 affordable housing units across Maine over the next five years to help secure safe, stable housing for thousands of Maine people. This partnership will include supporting resident ownership of mobile home communities and maintaining affordable rural rental properties for people with low incomes.
"For the Maine Community Foundation to make a commitment to affordable housing is supporting a core element of what is going to allow families, individuals and communities in Maine to thrive."
- Liza Fleming-Ives, Genesis Community Loan Fund
MaineCF will commit its own discretionary resources to this larger investment fund effort and hopes to help build momentum to make a meaningful difference to preserve affordable housing. Affordable, stable housing is essential to build a better Maine and peace of mind for thousands of Maine people who rely on it.
“You don’t wake up in the morning wondering, ‘Oh, gee, how am I going to make rent this month?’”, a Blueberry Hills Cooperative resident said of land ownership. “We are in charge of our own destinies here.”
Learn more about how to become involved with this critical effort by contacting Bree Arsenault, vice president of philanthropy, barsenault@mainecf.org.
