A Message From THA
Enjoy your 4th of July (Independence Day) holiday weekend!
On Monday, Governor Lee signed Executive Order #50 , which extends the State of Emergency in Tennessee to August 29th, and promotes regulatory flexibility and social distancing measures.
Good Health Begins at Home
One mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee.

A healthy home is designed, built and maintained in support of good health.

Right is a comprehensive approach to preventing diseases and injuries that result from housing-related hazards and deficiencies.

Learn the eight Healthy Homes principles.
Keep your home:
  • Dry: Damp houses provide a good environment for mites, roaches, rodents, and molds.
  • Clean: Clean homes help reduce pest infestations and exposure to contaminants.
  • Pest-Free: Studies have shown exposure to mice and cockroaches can increase asthma attacks in children. Improper pesticide treatments for pest infestations can worsen health problems, since pesticide residues in homes can pose health risks.
  • Safe: The majority of children’s injuries occur in the home. Falls are the most frequent cause of residential injuries to children, followed by injuries from objects in the home, burns and poisonings.
  • Contaminant-Free: Chemical exposures include lead, radon, carbon monoxide, pesticides, asbestos and environmental tobacco smoke. Exposures are often higher indoors than outdoors.
  • Ventilated: Studies have shown that increasing the fresh air in a home improves respiratory health.
  • Maintained: Poorly-maintained homes are at risk for moisture and pest problems. Deteriorated lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 is the primary cause of lead poisoning in children.
  • Thermally Controlled: Houses that do not maintain adequate temperatures may place the safety of residents at increased risk from exposure to extreme cold or heat.
2-Page - Resource Guide
9-Page Resource Guide
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White House Holds Briefing on USMCA Implementation


On Monday, MHI participated in a White House briefing call to discuss the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which goes into effect Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Participating on the call was Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney and senior White House officials.

MHI has closely monitored the current trade dialogue on softwood lumber and other building materials and had advocated to Congress and the Administration for a resolution so that consumers are not negatively impacted by increased costs for manufactured housing.

As a founding member of the American Alliance of Lumber Consumers (AALC), MHI is working to provide American consumers access to a stable, dependable and affordable supply of lumber and building materials. The American Alliance of Lumber Consumers is a coalition of business groups who support open trade in lumber and building materials. In addition to MHI, founding members of the AALC include the National Association of Home Builders, the National Retail Federation and the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association. 

Supreme Court Rules on Structure of CFPB


The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the President has discretion to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). However, the high court rejected arguments that the entire agency should be shut down.

In order to ensure the CFPB's independence, the law creating the CFPB called for it to be headed by a single director, confirmed by the Senate, who would serve a five-year term and who could only be fired for malfeasance, inefficiency or neglect of duty. That independent structure was challenged by the Trump administration, claiming that the limits on the president's power to fire the agency head were unconstitutional. It is not clear from the Supreme Court’s ruling whether this decision also applies to the independence of other single-director agencies, such as the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

Manufactured Housing Provisions Included in House Passed Infrastructure Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the “Moving Forward Act,” a $1.5 trillion plan to rebuild America’s infrastructure, which included two key manufactured housing provisions due to MHI’s advocacy efforts – the establishment of a program at HUD to fund the preservation of manufactured home communities and an expansion and extension of the 45L Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit (45L Tax Credit).

President Trump has issued a veto threat against the House’s infrastructure package and the Senate leadership has indicated that any infrastructure package it considers will be dramatically different than what has passed in the House. As the negotiations continue, MHI will work with its bipartisan champions in both chambers to support inclusion of these two provisions in any final infrastructure bill that is signed into law.
Supporting Preservation of Manufactured Home Communities

Introduced as an amendment by Representative Cynthia Axne (D-IA), the House infrastructure package provides federal grant money to entities purchasing or rehabilitating manufactured home communities for the purpose of creating affordable housing opportunities – including for-profit manufactured home community owners and operators. Modeled after H.R.5547, the “Manufactured Housing Community Preservation Act of 2020” which was introduced in January, MHI worked with Representative Axne and Mo Khanna (D-CA) as the legislation was drafted to ensure that for-profit land-lease community owner-operators would be among the entities eligible to apply for funding under the program. Money granted through the program would be disbursed in the amount of $1 million or $20,000 per lot in the community, whichever is less.
 
Land-lease communities that meet affordability requirements will be eligible for 40% of the funds, with the remainder of funds being available for non-profits, public housing agencies, local governments, Indian tribes, and resident-owned communities. The funds can be used for:
  • Acquisition and preservation of manufactured housing communities; 
  • Costs for making improvements to common areas and community property for acquired manufactured housing communities; and/or
  • The demolition, removal, and replacement of dilapidated homes from a manufactured housing community.
 
Under the program, any entities who receive grants are required to keep, manage and maintain the property for at least 20 years. Further, the amendment limits rent increases to no more than 10 percent annually. The recipient of funds is also required to match the amount granted with non-federal funds.
 
Extension and Expansion of the 45L Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit (45L Tax Credit)
The House infrastructure package extends the 45L Tax Credit through 2025. MHI has been a consistent voice on Capitol Hill advocating strongly for the extension of this tax credit. MHI works with the House and Senate tax committees each year to secure the annual extension of this credit. The bill expands the maximum credit for eligible new energy efficient homes from $2,000 to $2,500 and makes eligible units with energy expenditures at least 15% below the expenditures of a comparable unit based on the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code standards. It also replaces the eligibility requirements for units eligible for the $1,000 credit to correspond with the Energy Star Labeled Homes program.
GAO Report Highlights
Rental Affordability Crisis

A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the state of rental housing in the U.S. confirms that families across the country struggle to find affordable rental housing that isn’t cost prohibitive noting that many renters are considered “rent burdened” – paying over 30 percent of their income for rent. Now more than ever, as the COVID-19 pandemic has redefined the value and meaning of “home,” it is critical Americans have access to safe, secure, and affordable homes of their own. Manufactured housing is filling the market supply gap, providing homes that are both affordable and of the highest quality.

The report builds on and affirms what industry researchers have argued for years – a lack of quality and affordable housing supply is driving prices up for renters and homeowners alike. The report states that “The rising rent burden is part of a long-term trend in rental unaffordability, as supply has not kept pace with demand for rental units. With fewer affordable apartments available, rent burdens increased among lower-income households, who were forced to spend a greater proportion of income on rent.”

Analyzing data from the American Community Survey and American Housing Survey from 2001 through 2017, GAO found that almost half (48 percent) of all renter households were rent burdened. Of particular concern, the findings show that low-income households struggle significantly to find access to affordable rental housing, with almost 75 percent of low-income renter households experiencing rent burden, putting over half of their income towards rent. The report also notes that rent burden is common among renter households in rural areas, not just urban and suburban. Further, the data highlights how low-income renter households are also most likely to live in low-quality rental housing with serious deficiencies, that lack essential components of a dwelling (such as heating equipment or hot and cold running water). 

Resident Protection Legislation Introduced for MHCs Financed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or FHA


Reps. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Cynthia Axne (D-IA) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA) have introduced legislation requiring owners and operators of manufactured home communities financed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to guarantee certain protections for their residents. Protections include:
  • The right to a renewable lease,
  • The right to advanced notice of rent increases,
  • The right to sell your home without relocation, including the right to post for sale signs,
  • Prior notice of at least 60 days if the community is being sold or closed, and
  • Protection from eviction without cause.

Titled the “Helping Owners Meet Essential Standards (HOMES) Act,” the bill would also create a commission to develop additional standards that aim to alleviate excessive rent increases, which could be paired with reduced rates on MHC financing. The bill has been endorsed by: MHAction, Prosperity Now, National Consumer Law Center, and National Housing Law Project.




Governor Lee Press Conference Highlights
(Wednesday - 07/01/20)
During Governor Lee's press conference surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the following updates were provided:
  • Governor Lee signed Executive Order 53, which grants limited liability protection to healthcare providers, with respect to the services they render which are not considered gross negligence or willful misconduct.

  • Additionally, Governor Lee has signed Executive Orders 50, 51, and 52, which are extensions of Executive Orders 16, 26, 36, and 38. As mentioned early in this newsletter, Executive Order 50 extends Tennessee's State of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic to August 29, 2020. Executive Order Nos. 51 and 52 extend provisions permitting electronic government meetings, and remote notarization and witnessing of documents to August 29, 2020. A link to the official press release, including a summary of each Executive Order, can be found here. 

  • Governor Lee also indicated his expectation for the General Assembly to convene for a special session regarding liability protection against COVID-19 related lawsuits for businesses, nonprofits, churches, and schools.

  • Tennessee continues to experience substantial case increases, including an increase of 1,800 cases yesterday.

  • The number of economically distressed counties in Tennessee has fallen from 15 to 11, the fewest since 2007. McNairy, Jackson, Fentress, and Morgan counties have been removed from the economically distressed county list in Tennessee. (Lake, Lauderdale, Hardeman, Perry, Wayne, Clay, Grundy, Bledsoe, Scott, Hancock and Cocke counties, still remain on the distressed list.) See the full announcement here!

Track the economic impacts of COVID-19 on people, businesses, and communities across the United States, in real time.

Go to the site HERE , to see a national picture or double-click on your state, when viewing the map.

Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard continue to support drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites across the state.

To find a site near you, go HERE .
The Tennessee Business Relief Program is on track to distribute $200 million in relief payments to 28,000+ small businesses affected by this economic crisis.

For payment amounts, eligibility info, and program FAQs, visit HERE .
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) continues to offer relief for Tennessee's small businesses and non-profits facing the financial impact of COVID-19.

For more information, visit HERE .
Mitigation efforts of states continually consider their respective hospital availability of beds and ventilators (resources), when implementing new pandemic policies. If you are curious about where Tennessee Hospital COVID-19 resources stand, click HERE , to view a snapshot.
COVID-19 RESOURCES

By Member request, THA will continue to maintain a resource section on our Website , for an extended period of time.


Get the Facts
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SAVE THE DATE
Upcoming MHI Webinars

July 21 -  Revisiting the Retailer Do's & Don'ts List regarding Financing

July 29 -  OUTSIDE the BOX – A Solution to the Affordable Housing Crisis

August 5 -  Managing Your Online Reputation

RETAIL SALES
COVID-19 Recovery
How to Emerge & Thrive
Free Webinar Series
6 Easy Ways To Boost Sales in 2020

Powered/Sponsored by: ManufacturedHomes.com
As a nation and an industry, we are currently facing tough economic hardships.
When the recovery comes -- and it will come --
will you and your business be ready to emerge and thrive?

Remaining Upcoming Scheduled Topics

  • Thursday, July 2, 2020, 2 PM ET - Retaining, Recruiting, & Developing Talent - Paul Barretto

  • Thursday, July 16, 2020, 2 PM ET - Effective Sales Management - John Ace Underwood

  • Thursday, July 30, 2020, 2 PM ET - Engaging With Your State Association - Rick Robinson

  • Thursday, August 13, 2020, 2 PM ET - Leveraging Innovation - Paul Barretto
NEW TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING?

ManufacturedHomes.com offers a glossary of terms, used by the industry.
THA had a successful legislative year! Now it is time to support the many legislators who supported us!
The THA 2020 Political Action Committee (PAC) Campaign is in Progress!

  • As the campaign season for November elections has now begun in Tennessee, your political contribution of funds is critical to our industry's state success. 

  • Access to our legislative members is key, as was just proven by THAs successful passing of much needed changes to our transportation law.

  • Please support the THA-PAC, to allow THA's continuance of educating key lawmakers on the importance of our industry, while also providing general counsel of promoting manufactured homes as a viable option for addressing the affordable housing crisis.


The THA-PAC is accepting contributions!

Thank you for your consideration!
  
DID YOU KNOW... in Tennessee?

  • Every legislative session 2,000 – 5,000 bills are introduced.

  • Everyday Legislators make decisions which impact our industry.

  • The wrong decision could cripple or eliminate your livelihood.

  • Every year our legislative issues become tougher.

  • Having a strong, well-supported Political Action Committee (PAC) is critical in propelling the industry towards its legislative goals.

  • To legislative candidates, a PAC represents numbers, constituents and strength.

  • The THA Political Action Committee provides a unified voice for the manufactured housing industry in Tennessee, which positions us to meet the challenges of an ever-changing legislative political environment.

  • The ability of THA to impact the outcome of important decisions made by the Legislators is strengthened by our success in backing winning candidates who are industry-friendly.

  • Your personal contribution is vital if we are to continue supporting industry-friendly candidates.

  • Every dollar you contribute to the THA-PAC goes directly to targeted candidates.
Tennessee accepts corporate, personal and LLC contributions. Your contribution is critical! 
As previously noted, THA passed important transportation legislation during the 2020 legislative session, which has now concluded. Special thanks to our transportation bill sponsors, Senator Becky Massey (District 6 - Knoxville) and Representative Rick Tillis (District 92 - Lewisburg) , for getting our bill through all of the various committee hearings and up for floor votes! These legislators are very knowledgeable on the needs of our industry, and we appreciate their efforts on our behalf!

1. Modification to holiday restriction of home transports .
  • This statutory change will open up four (4) shipping weekends for the industry, where movement is currently restricted: Martin Luther King Day (Jan); President’s Day (Feb); Columbus Day (Oct); Veterans Day (Nov).

2. Regulatory Technical Correction
  • In 2019, a section referencing annual blanket trip permits, added a statutory reference which inadvertently reduced MH’s permitting of up to 120’ length on annual permits, down to 90’ length. The state agreed there was an error in reference, and currently waives the standing rule, until this technical correction can be implemented.

3. Transportable Width Modification
  • Allowance of a trip permit to grant movements of 18’ wide homes, in and through Tennessee.

THA's Annual Meeting and 65th
Anniversary Celebration
October 18 - 20, 2020
Installer/Retailer
Initial Licensing & Continuing Ed
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