With only days remaining in Pennsylvania’s legislative session, residents of mobile home parks across Erie County and the Commonwealth are continuing their push for legislation they believe would provide greater financial protections for manufactured homeowners.
Residents gathered at Summit Heights Mobile Home Park say they remain committed to supporting House Bill 1250, a measure designed to address rising lot rents and establish guidelines for rent increases imposed by mobile home park owners, many of whom are based outside Pennsylvania.
For longtime resident Patti Starvaggi, the issue is personal. Starvaggi has lived in the manufactured home community for 26 years and has spent the last several years advocating for reforms at the state level. Two years ago, she traveled to Harrisburg to rally support among lawmakers and fellow residents. Now, as the legislative clock winds down, she says the effort to bring stability to lot rent costs continues.
Residents of manufactured home communities typically own their homes but rent the land beneath them, paying monthly lot fees to park owners. Starvaggi says those expenses have become increasingly difficult to manage, particularly as residents are also responsible for additional costs such as trash collection, sewer service, and other utilities.
Support for the legislation has expanded beyond longtime residents. Al Coppernall, a newer resident of Summit Heights and a military veteran, has joined the Pennsylvania Manufactured Home Residents Coalition, a grassroots organization advocating for changes to state law. The coalition has grown to nearly 700 members statewide, all working toward the shared goal of greater oversight of lot rent increases.
Coalition founder Bob Besecker has helped lead the effort in Harrisburg, organizing residents and encouraging lawmakers to take action. Most recently, the group traveled to the state capitol in June to meet with legislators and increase awareness of the challenges facing manufactured home residents.
Advocates say House Bill 1250 would help ensure rent increases are justified and transparent, providing relief for residents who often have limited options when costs rise. Because moving a manufactured home can be expensive and difficult, many residents say they are effectively tied to their communities and vulnerable to significant rent hikes.
With the Senate yet to take up the measure, supporters are urging lawmakers to act before the current legislative session comes to a close. For residents like Starvaggi and Coppernall, the fight is about preserving affordability and protecting the stability of communities they call home.