We sat down with Julie Massa to learn more about resident-owned communities and how ROC USA puts the power in the hands of residents.

TSAL: Julie, can you share a bit about your background and how you became involved with ROC USA?

Julie Massa: Years ago, I started in the policy department of a food bank, working primarily on organizing, policy, and involving emergency food recipients in advocacy. Over time, housing became crucial to me, especially as I interacted with residents in manufactured home communities. I worked as a lobbyist for affordable housing providers and CASA of Oregon, helping communities organize and purchase the land beneath their homes through co-ops. When I joined ROC USA in 2020, I took on the role of relationship manager for ROC USA affiliates, known as Certified Technical Assistance Providers (CTAPs). Recently, my focus has shifted more toward the ROC Association, helping lead top community leaders nationwide. After 15 years, I’m still inspired by the mission – empowering residents to own and run their communities.

TSAL: For those unfamiliar, what exactly is a Resident-Owned Community (ROC), and how does it function?

Julie: A ROC is a community where the residents collectively own the land beneath their homes. Typically, these are incorporated as cooperatives. What this means is residents can elect a board, make collective decisions, and have real control and security over their futures – much different from being at the mercy of outside landlords or investors. ROC USA helps provide both access to capital and technical assistance to guide them through this process – formation, financing, and ongoing management.

TSAL: What are some misconceptions about manufactured housing and these communities?

Julie: “Mobile homes” are not truly mobile. It’s prohibitively expensive to move one, as high as $15,000 to move one ranch style home, and they often can’t be relocated at all. Another misconception is that these communities are rundown by default. In reality, I’ve seen beautiful, vibrant resident-owned communities, even gated neighborhoods, places with pride and cohesion. 

I don’t think the field thinks about manufactured housing as actually the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the country. And if they’re cooperatives, they are self-sustaining. The cooperative owns it collectively, and the space rent is their revenue to operate the business. 

TSAL: What are the main threats facing manufactured home communities today?

Julie: The biggest threat is from private investors who see these parks as cash cows. Some park owners see the parks as legacy projects to hand down to their children. And real estate brokers make a lot of money when these parks sell. Some parks were selling three or four times in two years, and the brokers make closing costs each time they sell. It’s on the backs of the residents that fuel this profit that investors make. That’s the real story. It’s not an overlooked market.

When investors buy, rents tend to go up, infrastructure is neglected, and residents’ futures become uncertain. Sometimes, families are displaced with minimal compensation. Parks that once sold for $500,000 now sell for millions, making it harder for residents to compete and stay. ROC USA’s mission is to change that by helping residents buy these parks themselves before that happens.

The stigma of manufactured home communities is that they are undesirable or even blighted places to live. Many jurisdictions ban these communities and zone them out. In fact, the residents in these communities have yards and amenities that they would not have in an apartment. Mobile home communities should be a housing choice.

TSAL: Why is it so important that residents are able to own their parks?

Julie: One of my favorite stories is about a construction foreman who had lived in his community for years under a private owner, watching infrastructure decline. He was ready, with a list in hand, to fix everything once the residents took ownership. When the co-op formed and purchased the property, they made those improvements and created lasting stability. Another example is from Minnesota: the residents prioritized building a storm shelter for children waiting for the bus. It took ten years, combining reserves and raised funds, but they accomplished it together. The residents know best what they need in their parks. When they have ownership, they can make it happen. That’s true empowerment.

TSAL: Once residents own their communities, how does ROC USA continue to support them?

Julie: ROC USA and affiliated organizations provide ongoing technical assistance, especially monitoring democratic practices within the co-ops. Democracy isn’t always easy – sometimes there’s pressure to revert to top-down leadership. Our TAs act as democracy stewards, ensuring collective governance stays in place. We also hold communities accountable to their loan agreements; when ROC USA helps finance a purchase, the residents are expected to maintain the community, make improvements, and repay the loans.

TSAL: You mentioned legislative efforts to help residents buy their communities. Can you explain those?

Julie: The big push is for “opportunity to purchase” (OTP) or “right of first refusal” legislation – giving residents notice and a chance to match purchase offers for their parks. It doesn’t force owners to sell to residents, but it does give them a fair shot, time, and sometimes the benefit of media attention to bolster their offer. Implementation varies by state; for example, Oregon now requires owners to notify residents when parks go up for sale. ROC USA supports these efforts, but we’re careful to let residents and supporting attorneys lead the charge.

TSAL: What is a new narrative that you hope practitioners might understand about manufactured home communities?

Julie: I hope people recognize manufactured housing as a crucial element of affordable living – not a last resort, but a viable, dignified life option. Empowering residents leads to strong, stable communities. With the right support, these communities not only survive but thrive. If we don’t pay attention, we risk losing one of the most important sources of affordable housing in the U.S.

Julie Massa is the Network Support Manager with ROC USA.She previously worked as Lead Technical Assistance Provider in a ROC USA affiliate, CASA of Oregon. Julie has a long history of working to empower people of modest means to speak with elected officials and gain collective ownership of the land they live on.