APAC Accomplishments

  • 1980- APAC is founded as “Anoka People's Alliance for Change” to address the needs of low and moderate income individuals. Over 70 citizens attended the first meeting at Blaine High School, which covered issues of inadequate public transportation, lack of low cost health care, and other issues. APAC later evolved into “All Parks Alliance for Change” becoming an effective voice for manufactured home park residents. APAC hires its first executive director, Beth Newkirk. APAC and the Minnesota Manufactured Housing Association, the industry group, negotiated a plain English lease giving residents a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities. APAC obtained increased health care funding for low to moderate income individuals provided for under the Hill-Burton Act.

  • 1981- APAC sets a national precedent by utilizing Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to to fund park storm shelters in Blaine parks.

  • 1982- APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to eliminate no cause eviction, prevent retaliatory eviction, and establish storm shelter standards. The bill was signed into law on March 22, 1982.

  • 1983- APAC adopts manufactured home parks as the specific focus of its low and moderate income organizing efforts. APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to bar so-called 15-year clauses in leases. These clauses allowed park owners to prohibit in-park sales of older homes, forcing residents with older homes to either demolish the home or move it out of the park, at their own expense . Residents now have the right to sell a home within the park regardless of the age as long as it is in compliance with park rules.

  • 1984- APAC begins to organize its structure around the formation of park chapters at Fridley Terrace, Northview Villa, Village Green North, Sandpiper Bend, and Spring Lake Terrace. APAC stopped an illegal rent increase and obtained federal home improvement loans to bring homes up to code at Spring Lake Terrace.

  • 1985- APAC stopped discrimination against families with children at Northview Villa. APAC negotiated with the U.S. Postal Service and the park manager to allow residents to maintain individual mail service at Fridley Terrace.

  • 1986- APAC worked with the Attorney General’s office to protect the right to organize in parks, by preventing management from evicting residents for forming a resident association and peacefully distributing flyers in their parks. APAC secured an agreement for a storm sewer system and new storm shelter at Castle Towers.

  • 1987- APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to authorize municipalities to adopt park closing ordinances to require park owners and/or purchasers to provide relocation compensation in the event of a park closing. APAC also successfully pushed a storm shelter law allowing for stricter enforcement of shelter requirements. It gives cities the authority to order park owners to construct shelters if an evacuation plan is determined to be inadequate. APAC prevented the mass eviction of 110 families and required a major clean up at the Pines in Hopkins. Lee (Roderick) Blons becomes APAC’s second executive director when Beth Newkirk leaves to direct the Organizing Apprenticeship Project.

  • 1988- APAC changes its name to “All Parks Alliance for Change” and expands metro-wide. New chapters are started in several cities within Hennepin and Dakota County. In the next few years, chapters are organized in Washington, Carver, and Ramsey counties as well.

  • 1989- APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to allow cooperative and nonprofit owned parks to homestead. This tax change reduces the costs of park conversions by lowering property taxes about 65%. APAC successfully pushed for the first park closing ordinance in the city of Bloomington. The ordinance provided for relocation compensation in the event of a park closing. APAC obtained a $50 per month reduction and $430 per person rebate in a rent challenge. APAC was awarded with a Certificate of Commendation from Governor Rudy Perpich for "outstanding service" to the community.

  • 1990- APAC successfully pushed for a park closing ordinance in the city of Hopkins. APAC re-locates its office from Fridley to St. Paul in recognition of its metro-wide focus.

  • 1991- APAC successfully pushed for a park closing ordinance in the city of Lake Elmo. APAC incorporates the Northstar State Community Land Trust and begins its efforts to purchase parks from traditional investor owners, focusing on Whispering Oaks in Oakdale. APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to create a right of first refusal in the event that a park is sold for redevelopment within one year of that sale. Residents or an authorized nonprofit are given 45-days to match the terms and conditions of the sale. Russ Adams becomes APAC’s fourth executive director.

  • 1992- APAC, through the Northstar State CLT, falls $50,000 short of acquiring Whispering Oaks in Oakdale. The park does leave investor hands when it is purchased by the Washington County HRA, which announces plans in 2005 to close the park for re-development. APAC and residents use tenant remedies action to get a storm shelter at Ardmor in Lakeville.

  • 1993- APAC received the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits’ Nonprofit Mission Award. APAC also received the Christian Sharing Fund’s Leo C. Byrne Social Justice Award for its success in "achieving dignity for people." Collins Park became the first park to close under a closing ordinance. Under the terms of the Bloomington ordinance, 90 households were given relocation compensation or the fair market value for their homes. APAC works with the city of Lake Elmo to require that two storm shelters be built at Cimarron.

  • 1994- APAC expands its focus statewide, creating Greater Minnesota as a secondary service area. Working with the Legal Service Advocacy Project, APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to pass three bills: (1) a requirement that home repossession actions take place in the county in which the home is located; (2) a requirement that park residents receive a copy of the park's evacuation plan and a certificate of rent paid form; and (3) a prohibition on restrictive zoning against parks. APAC obtained relocation compensation for residents of Cimarron Park in the township of St. Cloud. APAC worked with the city of Sauk Centre to remedy a dangerous electrical system at Boyack Park. APAC sues to gain access to the Skyline Village community center for resident meetings.

  • 1995- The Bloomington park closing ordinances is successfully upheld in court, establishing a legal precedent for park closing ordinances in the State of Minnesota. The former owner of Collins Park, which closed in 1993, had sued the city over paying relocation compensation. APAC obtained relocation compensation for 120 households in Elm Lane in Willmar and 25 households for a partial closing in Madison East Park in Mankato. APAC and residents force Oak Lane in Cannon Falls township to install new sanitary sewer system. Dakota County District County Judge rules in favor of residents holding meetings in Skyline Village. APAC receives its first AmeriCorps * VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) housing organizer since 1980. With the exception of one year, APAC has continued to receive placements since 1995. Glenn Shoemaker becomes APAC’s executive director when Russ Adams leaves to direct the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability.

  • 1996- APAC successfully pushed for a park closing ordinance in the city of Mounds View.

  • 1997- APAC successfully pushed for park closing ordinances in the cities of Burnsville, Dayton, and Elk River. APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to require parks to provide criteria used for evaluating prospective tenants.

  • 1998- APAC obtains relocation compensation for 37 households in Elk Terrace in Elk River. Jim Paist becomes APAC’s sixth executive director.

  • 1999- APAC successfully pushed for a park closing ordinance in the city of Shakopee. APAC expands its primary service area to include Wright and Sherburne Counties.

  • 2000- APAC successfully pushed for park closing ordinances in the cities of Apple Valley, Oakdale, and Roseville.

  • 2001- APAC successfully pushed for park closing ordinances in the cities of Fridley and Red Wing.

  • 2002- APAC obtained relocation compensation for 27 households in Castle Court in Rochester. APAC received an award of recognition from the Otto Bremer Foundation for its “community contributions.”

  • 2003- APAC launched a joint program with the North Country Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) to preserve parks through conversion to resident-owned cooperatives.

  • 2004- APAC worked with NCDF to convert Sunrise Villa in Cannon Falls into the first resident-owned manufactured home park cooperative in Minnesota and the upper Midwest. APAC successfully pushed for a park closing ordinance in the city of Lexington. APAC obtained relocation compensation for residents in Janesville, Le Center, and Hermantown. Dave Anderson becomes APAC’s executive director when James Paist leaves to direct the Hemophilia Foundation of Minnesota/Dakotas.

  • 2005- APAC worked with NCDF to convert Paul Revere in Lexington into the second resident-owned park cooperative in Minnesota and the first in the Twin Cities. After a five year effort, APAC passed a park closing ordinance in the city Brainerd making it the first in northern Minnesota. APAC worked with residents of Shady Lane in Bloomington on the first exercise of the right of first refusal. It was challenged by the park owner and successfully upheld in court, establishing a legal precedent for the right of first refusal in the state of Minnesota. APAC stopped passage of proposal that would have allowed park owners to break lease agreements and charge for water, even if it was already included in lot rent. APAC and others convened over 45 individuals from more than 30 organizations for “Preserving Minnesota’s Manufactured Home Parks,” a first of its kind conference focusing on the challenges facing park residents.

  • 2006- APAC worked with the Northwest Area Foundation, Housing Preservation Project, and Twin Cities Public Television to dramatically increase public awareness of the threats to parks through the Emmy-nominated documentary, “American Dream Under Fire: Manufactured Home Park Residents Fight to Hold Ground.” APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to require that park closing notices be sent to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health. APAC passed local relocation compensation ordinances in the cities of Austin, Rosemount, and St. Anthony Village. APAC obtained a proclamation from Governor Tim Pawlenty recognizing the vital role of manufactured home communities, honoring APAC’s work on behalf of homeowners, and declaring September 24-30 “Manufactured Home Park Week.” APAC establishes its first Latino community organizer and staff attorney positions. APAC completed its first strategic plan.

  • 2007– APAC passed the final local relocation compensation ordinances in the cities of Anoka, Inver Grove Heights, and Sunrise Estates, before the passage of state legislation. APAC lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to establish the Minnesota Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund providing a statewide guarantee of relocation compensation when a park closes to 180,000 residents in over 400 cities. APAC successfully argued before the Minnesota Supreme Court that no park owner can prohibit residents or others from peacefully organizing, assembling, canvassing, leafleting, or otherwise expressing their right of free expression in parks. APAC begins a national resident organizing project to promote resident leadership, organizing, and advocacy in other states and to develop strong local, state, and national homeowner associations. APAC establishes its first Greater Minnesota-based community organizer position located in Winona. Headwaters Foundation for Justice awards APAC with the Allies for Justice Award. APAC worked with Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NNCDF) to convert Bennett in Moorhead into the third resident-owned park cooperative in Minnesota. APAC researched and published policy reports documenting local relocation compensation ordinances passed by cities in Minnesota and case studies of racial disparities in manufactured home parks. An intern through the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA) program developed a video called "Native Justice" in fall 2007, which highlights issues confronted by Native American park residents in northern Minnesota.

  • 2008– APAC successfully lobbied the Minnesota Legislature to establish the Manufactured Home Lending Practices Bill, a law that protects homeowners from predatory lending practices, such as charging for services that aren’t performed, as well as extending the foreclosure process on manufactured homes giving homeowners more time and resources to prevent the loss of their homes. For the second year in a row, APAC hosted the Manufactured Home Owners Association of America (MHOAA) National Convention and continues to develop strong local, state, and national homeowner associations. APAC opens its second Greater Minnesota office located in Moorhead. APAC hires its first Democracy Project organizer in order to engage residents in the 2008 elections and in the following legislative session. APAC worked with Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) to convert the Madelia Mobile Community into the fourth resident-owned park cooperative in Minnesota. APAC works with Woodlyn Court the first community to close under the Relocation Trust Fund to ensure the process operates properly and residents receive full compensation. APAC works with Sunrise Estates residents to finally replace an inadequate storm shelter and evacuation plan with two new storm shelters. APAC creates and publishes a Community Organizing Manual and a Fundraising Guide as tools for residents and home owner associations.

  • 2009- APAC strengthened the Relocation Trust Fund by requiring collection of the fees from park owners. APAC established and participated in a manufactured housing transportation project working group with MnDOT and local transportation authorities that lead to MnDOT guidelines that favor avoiding parks, replacing parks, and providing full relocation compensation. APAC organized and lobbied with residents to halt road projects in Arden Hills and force MnDOT to form a working group with residents in Shakopee. For the third year in a row, APAC organized the Manufactured Home Owners Association of America (MHOAA) National Convention, which was held this year in Seattle, WA. APAC established its first law clerk positions. APAC produced a "Home Owners Association Start Up Guide" for MHOAA.

  • 2010- APAC established the right to choose your home installation option rather than having to accept the most expensive option. As a result of APAC's efforts, manufactured homeowners now have access for the first time to the Right-of-Way Acquisition Fund (RALF) when road projects take their homes, and property tax treatment is comparable to the lower rate for site-built homes for homeowners who live in resident-owned parks. APAC intervened legally to prevent park-wide loss of water service in Edgewood Estates, Hy-View Estates, and Green Valley. APAC produced the "National Public Policy Guide" for MHOAA.

  • 2011- APAC prevented the park owners from passing legislation to allow them to break leases with residents in order to install sub-meters and separately charge, over and above lot rent, for water and sewer. APAC had attempted to negotiate a mutually acceptable compromise that protected the residents' rights as consumers, but ultimately had to oppose the legislation. APAC worked with residents to obtain relocation compensation for both the home owners and renters of Halstead manufactured home park. APAC worked with residents to make sure their concerns were addressed in MnDOT highway projects planned near their communities.

  • 2012- APAC worked with residents to establish a nonprofit home owners association and access grant funds to mitigate a problem with arsenic in the well water at Brandy Lake Estates (Detroit Lakes). APAC worked with residents and the Housing Preservation Project to delay closure of Northern Terrace (Ely) due to an insufficient closure notice. APAC facilitated a meeting between the residents of Sunrise Estates (Stacy) and the new owners on a range of topics, including the introduction of water sub-metering and the removal of abandoned homes. APAC met with MHFA Commissioner Mary Tingerthal to evaluate the success of the Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund established in 2007 and to identify areas for improvement. APAC has been involved in the launch of the Alliance for Healthy Homes & Communities, which is a statewide coalition of health and housing organizations, and targeted efforts to connect services to park residents. APAC has consulted with the West Bank Community Development Corporation to provide training and assistance to their Seven Corners Apartments resident association, which is their largest property.

  • 2013- Using date from 1985 to present, APAC identified and shared trends related to manufactured housing in the Twin Cities metropolitan area with working groups convened by CFED and the McKnight Foundation. This research identified underutilization of existing, naturally occurring affordable housing and opportunities for expansion. APAC organized residents in the 43-lot park Northern Terrace in Ely to contest a park closure note that did not comply with state law, provide residents with more time before the park closed, and ensure fair relocation compensation. APAC organized residents in the 130-lot park Woischke’s Island Resort in Pine City in order to convince the township board to force the park to meet Minnesota’s storm shelter standards.

  • 2014- The Rush Line Corridor is a transitway extending 80 miles from Hinckley to downtown St. Paul running through 10 cities including 27 parks with 2,779 households, and approximately 7,500 residents. APAC is working to ensure that residents are aware of and involved in the process of planning and construction. APAC has released a first-of-its-kind “Before You Sign: A Consumer’s Guide to Mobile Home Parks in the Twin Cities.” The new annual guide provides information consumers need before signing a purchase or rental agreement, including important information about each park’s city and county and detailed park-by-park information, such as size of communities, vacancy rate, utilities, rents, and amenities. APAC organized residents in the 12-lot park Edgetown in Elbow Lake to prevent an illegal end run around the nine-month closure notice requirement and the shortchanging of residents on relocation payments. Working with Housing Preservation Project (HPP), APAC helped residents receive more generous benefits under the Uniform Relocation Act, which were in excess of $30,000, rather than the $4,000 initially offered. APAC organized residents in the 17 mostly Hmong households in Cedar Lane in Tracy when the park owner failed to pay the water bill and the city threatened to shut off the water. Working with HPP and Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, APAC helped residents to negotiate an arrangement where they paid their rent toward the city’s water bill to avoid shutoff. Working with Legal Aid, APAC organized residents in the 44-lot Basswood Court in Thief River Falls to keep them in their homes when the new owner issued 28 eviction notices based on back rent not paid while the park was in foreclosure. Working with HPP, APAC organized residents of the 156-lot park Parkview (formerly Paul Revere Cooperative) in Lexington to block attempts by the new park owner to introduce leases with illegal provisions.

  • 2015- APAC, residents, and park owners worked together to change Minnesota Department of Health rules on the spacing required for vehicle parking. In all likelihood, without this change, parks would have been forced to eliminate off-street parking, which is a major benefit for both park owners and residents in making the streets easier to navigate, plow, etc. APAC prevented the park owners from passing legislation that would have given investor-owned parks the same tax breaks as nonprofit or resident-owned parks and, as a result, made residents ineligible to file for the rent credit refund. APAC organized residents in the 71-lot park Red Top in Winona to ensure all parties complied with state closure laws and residents received fair relocation compensation. APAC organized residents to prevent RHP Properties, the new owners of the 254-home community, Beaver Lake Estates, in Maplewood from prohibiting the exercise of state guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, which forced the removal of metal signs that had attempted to prohibit entering the park, distributing leaflets, or knocking on doors. APAC opposed attempts by the Mission Creek Township to enforce a provision in its Land Use Ordinance requiring all manufactured homes placed on a lot or parcel be 15 years or newer, which violates both prohibitions on discriminatory zoning practices in Minnesota law as well as the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974. APAC successfully proposed an amendment to the Metropolitan Council’s 2040 Housing Policy Plan, which provides guidance for reviewing local comprehensive plans, to explicitly recognize actions cities take to preserve manufactured home parks in developing their Housing Performance Score. APAC is organizing residents in the 40-lot park Tri-County in Waite Park that is being threatened with closure in order to stop illegal attempts pressure residents to sign away their legal rights and to receive more generous benefits under the Uniform Relocation Act. Minnesota will be playing host, for the first time in eight years, to two national conventions dealing with the future of Manufactured Housing in America: the National Manufactured Home Owners Association (NMHOA) on October 24-25; and CFED’s Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I’M HOME) on October 26-28. APAC is renewing outreach to residents in the Fargo-Moorhead area; where had maintained a satellite office from 2008 to 2010.

  • 2016- APAC successfully lobbied for changes in the Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund to provide significantly more to either move or replace a home when a park is closed for private redevelopment. The maximum benefit for moving a home increases to $7,000 for a single-wide home and $12,500 for a double-wide home. If the home cannot be moved, the maximum home buyout changes to $8,000 for a single-wide and $14,500 for a double-wide. Also, a minimum home buyout amount is created and is set at $2,000 for a single-wide home and $4,000 for a double-wide home. APAC organized residents in the 40-lot park Tri-County in Waite Park to stop illegal attempts to pressure residents to sign away their legal rights and to obtain more generous benefits under the Uniform Relocation Act. APAC worked with Wioschke’s MH Park, a 130-household community near Pine City, to support their resident association and deal with a number of issues including improper placement of homes and the lack of storm shelter. The park was relying on an unaffiliated bar/restaurant as a makeshift storm shelter, but it was clearly inadequate. APAC and residents pressured the township to act and the park owner is now completing construction on a storm shelter. APAC launched a North Dakota organizing project that formed the Fargo Area Park Resident Association. APAC produced a report on resident needs and preferences for the Rush Line Corridor. APAC has begun to research and produce proposals for metro area cities’ 2018 Comprehensive Plan updates. APAC supported launching the Metropolitan Council’s park infrastructure pilot program.

  • 2017- APAC worked with KSTP-TV on a story investigating compliance with a state law that requires parks built after 1988 have an adequate storm shelter, and that older parks have an adequate evacuation plan approved by the local municipality. The investigation found 60 violations relating to storm shelters, the lack of shelters, or the lack of an approved plan for the residents who live there. Less than one year later, nearly 30 parks came into compliance. The MN Department of Health has taken disciplinary action against another 6 parks. Some counties (such as Ramsey County) have increased the frequency and thoroughness of their inspections. APAC updated and expanded its “Before You Sign: A Consumer’s Guide to Mobile Home Parks in the Twin Cities.” APAC worked with Legal Services of North Dakota to develop the North Dakota Mobile & Manufactured Home Handbook, which is the state’s first guide describing the rights and responsibilities of park residents. APAC joined the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee, which is a 21-member body that plays a role in the development of manufactured housing regulations. APAC participated in a working group session of the Metropolitan Council focused on ways to preserve manufactured home parks. APAC updated and expanded its “Before You Sign: A Consumer’s Guide to Mobile Home Parks in the Twin Cities.”

  • 2018- APAC performed a thorough analysis of park closures, concluded certain measurable risk factors put particular parks at greater risk, and developed a “Manufactured Housing Risk Assessment Tool,” which focuses on the 81 operating park communities in the seven-county metro area. The tool uses 17 different data sets that evaluate parks for 11 different risk factors related to individual park operations, institutional decision-makers, and the broader environment. We also developed a description of what appear to currently be the 10 most at-risk parks. APAC concluded our Comprehensive Plan Project, which involved advocating for improved treatment of manufactured housing residents in 2018 city-level comprehensive plan updates across the metro area. We provided a “snapshot’ tailored to the city, a Guide to Manufactured Housing Best Practices, or both to the 51 metro cities with parks. We developed a presentation on manufactured housing benefits, challenges, and possible legislative issues for legislators in a state Manufactured Housing Caucus. APAC successfully lobbied to create a manufactured home park infrastructure fund to support improvements in parks committed to providing long-term access to affordable housing, although no funds were appropriated. APAC was appointed to a new Rush Line Transit Corridor community advisory committee.

  • 2019- APAC successfully lobbied for a package of manufactured housing bills. Two high profile attempts by residents to purchase their communities (Lowry Grove in St. Anthony and Tri-County Mobile Home Park in Waite Park) revealed flaws in the state’s Right of First Refusal law, which allows residents to match a developer’s offer and preserve their community. We closed loopholes, and clarified and strengthened the process, in order to preserve the residents’ right to purchase their parks, to allow them to challenge failures to comply with the law, and to halt unlawful sales. Two expensive closure processes (Lowry Grove and Southgate) resulted in nearly $1 million in relocation benefits being paid in a one-year period, which nearly emptied the fund. We made several change which we have worked to ensure sufficient money is in the fund by authorizing the state to advance up to $400,000 if needed, simplifying and improving how benefits are accessed, and improving collection of the annual $15 fee. We also made changes to the park closure process, including increasing the minimum notice from 9 to 12 months, required holding a park closure hearing within 90 days of the closure notice, and guidelines for selecting the neutral third party that oversees the closure process. We supported expanding the eligibility of state affordable housing funds to cover manufactured housing. We also supported appropriating $2 million for the manufactured home park infrastructure fund created in 2018. APAC persuaded the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to provide an unprecedented level of attention to manufactured housing in its draft 2020-23 Strategic Plan and 2020-21 Affordable Housing Plan, which includes close collaboration with APAC to develop broad-based preservation strategies. APAC with the state to develop new materials and implement changes to annual collection of the $15 Relocation Trust Fund fee.

  • 2020- APAC released the final report on our Comprehensive Plan Project, which involved advocating for improved treatment of manufactured housing residents in 2018 city-level comprehensive plan updates across the metro area. Overall, the comprehensive plans demonstrated positive improvements between 2008 language and 2018 draft language. APAC successfully lobbied for a package of COVID-19 pandemic responses. APAC encouraged Governor Walz to issue an executive order that protected stimulus checks provided by the federal government as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from new garnishment orders, halted enforcement of existing garnishment orders, and made it clear that stimulus payments are exempt under existing state law. APAC lobbied for $100 million in CARES Act funds to be used for housing assistance and, for the first time, to make lot rent and manufactured home payments eligible for this assistance. This led to the creation of the COVID Housing Assistance Program (CHAP), which can be used for costs incurred between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020.