Disaster Philanthropy Playbook
Manufactured Home Disaster Recovery
Overview
In the United States, more than 22 million people live in mobile and manufactured homes, which represent an important affordable housing option for many communities.
Mobile home residents have higher exposure to natural hazards such as wind and tornadoes, hurricanes, extreme heat, wildfires and flooding than those living in other housing types. Mobile homes are also often overlooked in hazards planning and disaster recovery efforts.
Understanding the importance and role of mobile homes and how needs can be addressed equitably for residents of these homes is paramount for successful, equitable recovery.
Manufactured Home Disaster Recovery Playbook
The Manufactured Home Disaster Recovery Playbook was created by Matthew 25 in 2023 for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
In 2022, Matthew 25 received $85,000 from CDP’s Midwest Early Recovery Fund to support home repair in Linn County, Iowa (Cedar Rapids Area) in response to the August 2020 derecho. As part of the work, Matthew 25 developed a series of videos and a playbook.
Download the playbook and watch the videos below.
Download the Manufactured Home Disaster Recovery Playbook
Videos
Overview
MH Disaster Recovery Overview from Flow Media on Vimeo.
Residents
Construction
Management
Funders
MH Disaster Recovery: Funders from Flow Media on Vimeo.
Supporting Manufactured Home Recovery
As a critical part of disaster recovery for the community, long-term recovery groups (LTRGs) and organizations coordinating recovery require funding to develop and maintain the capacity.
Fund community housing assessments: Many communities, especially rural and chronically underresourced communities, do not have data and a clear understanding of housing in their community. Funding communities to develop assessments allows them to plan for risks, develop affordable housing plans and potentially leverage other funding resources that are dependent on available data.
Fund legal services: Tenants and owners of manufactured homes often have legal needs that are a barrier to receiving other disaster services and assistance. Funding legal services, especially after a disaster, provides residents with better access to the local, state and federal resources they are eligible for.
Fund repair, stabilization and replacement for mobile homes: Often, because of the difficulty in repairing mobile homes, especially older ones, residents are left waiting for repair assistance. Provide funding that allows LTRGs and community organizations to repair and stabilize homes, and/or replace homes that are fortified and able to withstand future hazards.
Resources
- CDP webinar: Mobile homes and disaster: Understanding risks and opportunities
- Giving Compass: Make Mobile Homes Part of Your Disaster Funding Strategy
- Headwater Economics: Mobile home residents face higher flood risk
- Urban Institute: Why Are Mobile Home Parks Uniquely At Risk to Climate Disasters?