Congress recently passed a bill allowing for a committee to be formed dealing with manufactured home issues. In short:

The American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000 creates a 21-member consensus committee to recommend revisions to the manufactured housing standards. The committee will include equal representation of industry, consumers and the public. The Act calls for the committee to develop minimum national standards for the installation of homes. In addition, states are given five years to adopt a dispute resolution system among manufacturers, retailer, and installers regarding the responsibility for the repair of defects reported by consumers within one year of installation. If a state does not adopt a dispute resolution system during that time, HUD will administer its own system.

This committee will be making decisions that effect Illinois homeowners. Our organization was sent forms to apply to the committee. We are now in the process of getting the required documents for a MHOAI board member to be a part of this committee. We need someone in Washington to represent the residents in our state, and will be able to come back home with first hand information to pass on to you. We hope that HUD takes our issues as seriously as we do. We will keep you informed about the outcome of our efforts.