Manufactured/Mobile Home Relocation Assistance and Coordination Programs

If you own your manufactured or mobile home and live in a community closing in Washington, you may be eligible for relocation assistance and coordination services. Manufactured and mobile home relocation assistance is provided to eligible, income qualifying households on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing tenants in communities closred due to health and safety concerns or community-owner fraud.

Program Overview

The Manufactured/Mobile Home Relocation Assistance Program (Relocation Assistance Program) provides cash assistance up to $11,000 for a single-section home or up to $17,000 for a multi-section home (including single-sections with additional, built living space). Cash assistance is provided in two payments:

  1. when a household is determined eligible; and
  2. when a household either signs over the home’s title to the community owner, upon removal of their home from the community, or the household sells or gifts their home to a third party.

Both options must happen by the community closure date. Community owners may seek reimbursement from the Relocation Assitance Program for allowable demolition and disposal costs associated with eligible households. Community owners may request up to $5,500 for a single-section home and up to $8,500 for a multi-section home (inclusing single-sections with additional, build living space).

Households in closing communities may work with the Relocation Assistance Program Coordinator to ask questions about program eligibility, the application process, relocating from their community, or other resources. Please text/call 360-515-8149 or email Brooke.Brooling@Commerce.wa.gov.

Eligible Organization Registry and Notice of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase

Manufactured/mobile home communities provide affordable home ownership for households with middle to low incomes and create housing stability and long-term wealth building opportunity. In an effort to encourage and assist the preservation of existing communities, the Washington State Legislature passed SB 5198 during the 2023 session.

Among many important changes effective July 23, 2023, the bill gives residents (tenants) in manufactured/mobile home communities (MHCs) the opportunity to purchase their community or the property on which the community sits. The bill also provides the same opportunity for eligible organizations to receive Notices of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase these communities and the properties on which they sit. An “eligible organization” is defined as:

  • Community land trust
  • Resident nonprofit cooperative
  • Local government
  • Local housing authority
  • Nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organization
  • Federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Washington
  • Regional or statewide nonprofit housing assistance organization

Any eligible organization interested in receiving Notices of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase may submit an application to join the Eligible Organization Registry.

All Registry submissions are subject to public disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56. To request a copy of the Registry, please contact the program at 800-964-0852 or OMH@Commerce.wa.gov.

Effective July 23, 2023, manufactured/mobile home community owners are required to give written Notice of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase their manufactured/mobile home communities or the properties on which they sit. Community owners must provide these notices to community tenants, qualified tenant organizations, the Department of Commerce (Commerce), and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. Commerce is required to provide these notices to eligible organizations.

All Notice submissions are subject to public disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56.

Commerce will not post community owners or representatives’ addresses on its webpage or attached documents; however, we will post names and email addresses associated with each community.

The Opportunity to Compete to Purchase map visually displays the location of Commerce approved Notices of Opportunity to Compete to Purchase submitted by community owners or their representatives. Each blue map point represents an approved Notice and includes the following information: community name, date notice given to residents, Commerce notice approved date, community address, community owner/representative name, and community owner/representative email address. Please contact program staff at 800-964-0852 or OMH@Commerce.wa.gov for map navigation assistance.

Sale status of communities for which the program receives Notices may change. Please contact the community owner or representative directly for information about community status.

Information, Resources and Documents

To be eligible for relocation assistance, you must:

  • Have received a notice of closure
  • Lived in your home at the time the notice of closure was received
  • Have a household income that is less than 80% of HUD’s AMI (area median income)
  • Own your manufactured/mobile home when the closure notice is received.

Owners of recreational vehicles (RVs), travel trailers, and park models (as defined in RCW 59.20.030) are not eligible for relocation assistance.

If you have questions or need application materials in a language other than English or Spanish, don’t hesitate to contact us at omh@commerce.wa.gov, toll-free at 800-964-0852 or 360-725-2971.

If English is not your primary language, we will call you back with the help of a telephone interpreter in the language you are most comfortable with.

The Closure Notice to Tenants Template (Notice) must be used by landlords closing or converting their manufactured/mobile home community. Please see Chapter 38, Laws of 2023 (E2SSB 5198) – Manufactured/Mobile Home Communities – closure or conversion, and RCW 59.20.080 for exemptions to the two year Notice requirement. Read more about Notice requirements according to RCW 59.21.030.

The Notice is also available in the following languages:

The Notice is available upon request in printed form by contacting the programs at 800-964-0852 or OMH@Commerce.wa.gov. Document translations are provided by a Washington State Department of Enterprise Systems’ approved vendor.

The closure notice required by RCW 59.20.080 before community closure or conversion must be given to the Director and all tenants in writing.

  • Please send closure notices to the Director, Department of Commerce at omh@commerce.wa.gov.
  • Contact program staff for additional information, including a physical mailing address if preferred.

Resources for Residents of Closing Communities

Households in closing communities may work with the Department of Commerce Relocation Coordinator to ask questions about program eligibility, the application and financial assistance process, relocating from their community, and other resources. Text/call 360-515-8149 or email brooling@commerce.wa.gov.

If you are aware of additional resources that may be helpful to add to this list, please contact us at omh@commerce.wa.gov, toll-free at 1-800-964-0852 or 360-725-2971.

  • Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) – ACRS empowers Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other underserved immigrant and refugee communities by providing multilingual and multicultural services.
  • Lutheran Community Services Northwest – Lutheran Community Services helps WA residents, families, and immigrants with various services, including language services, community referrals, and connections to basic needs like food, housing, and employment.
  • National Immigration Legal Services Directory – The Immigration Advocates Network allows users to search for immigration legal services by zip code or detention facility. The directory includes nonprofits that provide free or low-cost services.
  • Washington State Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance – The Department of Social and Health Services’ Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance provides programs and services to help refugees and immigrants find economic self-sufficiency and cultural integration into Washington’s communities. Services include medical and mental health assistance, employment services, and naturalization services.
  • Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, Immigration Legal Services – Immigration Legal Services provides high-quality legal consultations, representation, and assistance to documented and undocumented immigrants of all nationalities, ethnicities, and religions.
  • Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) (Seattle) – CISC provides cultural resources by providing information, referrals, social and support services. In addition, they provide ESL and naturalization classes, family and youth services, domestic violence and crime victim services, and a technology center.
  • El Centro de la Raza (Seattle) – El Centro de la Raza advocates, educates, and organizes on behalf of the Latino community. They help minority populations experiencing homelessness.
  • Horn of Africa Services (HOAS) (Seattle) – HOAS provides multi-lingual and multicultural assistance to East African immigrants and refugees through education, referrals, and support.
  • Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center (KIAC) (Kitsap County) – KIAC provides legal immigration and language services and hosts family events. At these events, items are provided to persons in need, and medical clinics are available.
  • Korean Women’s Association of Washington (KWA) (Western WA) – KWA provides outreach and services to the Korean community in Western WA.
  • Tacoma Community House (South Puget Sound) – Tacoma Community House provides education and tutoring, employment help, immigration and citizenship assistance, and crime-victim advocacy.
  • West African Community Council (WACC) (Seattle) – WACC provides an early learning program for families of all backgrounds and cultures, provides legal immigration services, advocates for fair employment and job-hunting assistance.

2023 Session Legislation

Chapter 28, Laws of 2023 (ESSHB 1083) – Manufactured/Mobile Home Communities – closure or conversion – Read our Commerce Activities Summary E2SSB 5198 for summary of legislative changes that impact the Relocation Assistance and Coordination Programs.

Haga clic aquí para leer el resumen de las actividades comerciales de E2SSB 5198

Chapter 259, Laws of 2023 (HB 1771) – Concerning Relocation Assistance for tenants of closed or converted manufactured/mobile home parks (Please include hyperlink) – Read our Commerce Activities Summary HB 1771 for summary of legislative changes that impact the Relocation Assistance and Coordination Programs.

Haga clic aquí para leer el resumen de actividades comerciales para HB 1771.

Read our Commerce Terms and RCW Equivalents to see which Relocation Assistance and Relocation Coordination program terms mean the same as terms in other RCWs.

Haga clic aquí para leer los Términos de Comercio y los Equivalentes de RCW.

Manufactured Housing Communities Workgroup Report

The Washington State Legislature tasked the Department of Commerce to make recommendations, assess perspectives, and facilitate discussions about aspects of the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.20). This work began in August 2019, with a final report submitted to the Legislature in December 2020. 

Manufactured/Mobile Home Community Information

Manufactured/Mobile Home Community Purchase

The following organizations provide technical assistance or funding to preserve Washington’s manufactured/mobile home communities.

Interested in purchasing a manufactured home?

*This website has a Spanish translation tool.

Contact

Automated Service Line

Phone: 800-964-0852
Email: OMH@Commerce.wa.gov

Mailing Address

Commerce/Manufactured and Mobile Home Relocation Assistance
P.O. 42525, Olympia, WA 98504

If English is not your primary language, we will call you back with the help of a telephone interpreter in the language you are most comfortable with.