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Arcata highlights $3 million state MORE grant to repair and replace mobile homes
Summary
City staff outlined a state-funded Manufactured Housing and Opportunity Revitalization (MORE) award of $3,000,000 to help owner-occupied mobile homes inside parks with health, safety, accessibility and replacement needs; staff said the award could assist about 36 households, with funds converting to grants after three years of occupancy and spending required by August 2026.
David Loya, Arcata’s director of community development, told the City Council on March 19 that the city has been awarded $3,000,000 from the state’s Manufactured Housing and Opportunity Revitalization (MORE) program to help low- and moderate-income households living in mobile homes inside mobile‑home parks.
Loya said the program targets owner‑occupied units in parks where the household earns at or below 80% of area median income. “It’s a state‑funded program… the funding associated with that is secure and stable,” he said, noting the city estimates it can assist roughly 36 households but has received 46 applications to date and already has 23 awards in process.
Under the program, funds are distributed initially as loans that convert to grants if the recipient remains in the home for three years after an award. Loya emphasized that point: “When you talk to folks about this program, emphasize to them that it’s grant funding.” He added that the funds must be spent by August 2026, giving staff roughly a year to complete projects.
Staff described the program’s priorities as health and safety repairs and code‑violation remediation; accessibility and energy‑efficiency upgrades are eligible but are typically funded after health/safety items are addressed because of program rules. The program also allows replacement of units when repair costs exceed replacement costs; staff said vendor discounts are available if multiple units are ordered together.
Council members asked for clarification on accessibility eligibility and whether the program requires a minimum number of replacements to secure discounts. A staff member said accessibility work falls into a separate funding category that is funded after health/safety work, and that there is no minimum requirement to replace units — the five‑unit discount is an encouragement rather than a program threshold.
Loya encouraged interested residents to contact the community development office; staff noted program outreach materials and an online application portal are available. The presentation identified David Loya as the contact and credited community development specialist Nick Bichta with day‑to‑day program intake and contractor coordination.
Next steps: staff will continue processing applications, move eligible projects through permitting and loan/grant documents, and prioritize health and safety work to meet the program spending deadline.
