By Liam Gwynn | Source |
Since June of last year, a group of Fortuna seniors have been advocating for a rent stabilization ordinance for mobile home parks in the city. This was due to steep rent increases at the Royal Crest Mobile home park that residents say put seniors at risk.
“In my book, taking advantage of seniors is a principle that shouldn’t be on anybody’s list,” said Layne Moon, a Royal Crest Resident and Save Our Senior organizer.
After months of advocacy, crowded city council meetings and legal counsel the City of Fortuna passed an urgent rent stabilization ordinance that limits the amount park owners can raise rent.
“We’re super happy that this has been enacted. They did it under an urgency ordinance. So it goes into effect immediately. And, really, it’s remarkable that the city Council was as receptive and as compassionate as they were, with one exception,” said Hilary Mosher Northcoast Regional Manager at the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League and advisor for the Save our Seniors Movement.
The City of Fortuna passed the ordinance in a 4 to 1 vote.
Park owners will now only be able to raise the rent in accordance with the Consumer Price Index.
“The rent stabilization ordinance, protects residents that own their mobile homes in the mobile home park from, substantial rent increases. Rent increases are now capped at annual CPI rates, or they’re capped at 5%,” said Fortuna City Manager Amy Nilsen.
Hilary Mosher was asked to lead the Save our Seniors movement in Fortuna because of her experience helping establish similar RSO’s for Humboldt County and the City of Arcata.
She currently lives in a park that has been protected by Humboldt County’s RSO since 2016 and says the results have been very successful.
“That has impacted our lives positively in many, many ways. I mean, my rent is affordable. And we have not seen egregious, capital expenditures. We are seeing that our park owners throughout the county are maintaining a stable rent,” said Mosher.
Even though the ordinance has only been in effect for the day, the community of royal crest is already celebrating the win.
The Fortuna City Council is set to review and discuss the effectiveness of this RSO in 18 months.
ED. NOTE: Hilary Mosher is GSMOL Region 2 Manager and has been the force behind the adoption of several RSOs around the state.
