FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES TO KATRINA RELIEF

Personally and on behalf of the California Manufactured Housing Foundation I want to thank those of you who contributed to our efforts to help families who lost their homes and were relocated in California as a result of Hurricane Katrina. To-date just over 7,800 families have come to our state seeking temporary or permanent shelter.

On November 30th, on your behalf, I presented a check for $18,600 to the American Red Cross with the stipulation that the funds be used to shelter displaced families in California. Your generosity has brightened the holiday season for many families.

PRIORITIES________________

Several months ago I was asked for my thoughts on what the priorities for CMHI’s staff should be. I would like to share them with you. So here they are:

Primary Priorities

1. At all times, implement and support the Institute’s Mission Statement, specifically... “to advance the availability of manufactured homes by promoting the sale of manufactured housing and the development of desirable sites and communities in California.”
2. At all times, implement and support the will of the Board of Directors as established in accordance with the Institute’s by-laws.

Supporting Priorities

The following supporting priorities deal with current issues affecting the California manufactured housing market. In my judgment, the implementation and, where necessary, the refinement of these priorities are the basis for developing action plans to ensure the growth of our industry in a very complex and competitive market place.

I. Financing

Clearly, competitive and available financing for properly qualified home buyers is the pacemaker for the housing industry and that is especially true for the manufactured housing segment. Therefore, to ensure adequate and competitive financing for our customers, we should develop processes, procedures, marketing programs and where necessary, supporting legislation to attract both chattel and real property financing. Our ultimate goal...chattel financing at fair/competitive rates and real property mortgages at par with site-built rates.

II. Marketing

We should continue our efforts to expand the market for manufactured housing and the products provided by our members through:

• Consumer education
• Media relations
• Home shows
• Publications
• Government relations...both local and statewide

We can’t afford to be the “Best Kept Secret” much longer...we need to gain market share.

III. Communications

The key to much of what we do is ensuring that the “right people” know we’re doing it. While this sounds simple, it’s not easy.

There is significant anecdotal evidence that our publications have been well received at both the consumer and governmental level. The Resource and our Community Development Files are on target. More input from industry members will strengthen these publications.

Continuing and, where possible, expanding our internal and external communications is a must.

IV. Government Affairs

In order to make informed decisions, legislators and regulators need industry input. CMHI is, and must continue to be, their “Resource”.

The Institute must monitor both national, state and local legislation and regulations. Additionally, we should, when appropriate, sponsor new legislation that advances and protects our customer’s interests.

V. Association Growth