Moed legislation to protect mobile home residents passes House
INDIANAPOLIS – This session, language from legislation authored by State Rep. Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis) was amended into Senate Bill 148, requiring mobile home park owners to provide at least a 180-day notice before closing a property. This would ensure that the current residents have adequate time to find a new place to live or move their mobile homes elsewhere.
Moed authored a bill this session that would have required mobile home park owners to give tenants a 120-day notice before closing a property, but it was not given a hearing. However, after many conversations with legislators, language from his original bill was strengthened to 180 days and amended into Senate Bill 148 in the House Committee on Local Government on Thursday, February 27.
Last summer, more than 70 families were displaced from their homes when an owner of a mobile home park opted to close down the entire park on short notice. This left families struggling to find housing because many of the mobile homes were in disrepair or too old to be moved.
Upon hearing this story, Moed and other local elected officials, including now City Councilor Kristin Jones and Wayne Township Trustee Chuck Jones, organized a resource event to help residents get free legal help and services to assist in the transition.
“As I went door-to-door in the I-70 Mobile Home Park, I spoke with many residents who were facing the prospect of homelessness,” said Moed. “One family was literally sorting through the metal, aluminum and copper so they could take their home to the scrapyard and get what little money they could. It was heartbreaking to watch children sorting through the remains of their home.
“I represent several other mobile home communities throughout our side of town, and I want to do everything I can to make sure something like this doesn't happen again to our community,” continued Moed. “No one deserves to be left wondering where their family is going to sleep at night.
“Some of these Hoosiers thought they were going to be able to call the I-70 park their home forever,” Moed said. “I appreciate everyone who voted to ensure residents of mobile homes are given basic dignity and respect.”
This legislative change will provide a six-month advance notice to residents in the event that they need to move from the property. The amendment passed unanimously through the House Committee on Local Government and received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House with a vote of 92-3. This bill now moves onto a conference committee for final approval.