Florida Today has an interesting investigative story out that chronicles some of the use and potential misuse of FEMA funds after Hurricane Katrina.  Much of the story deals with how FEMA compensated people for damaged housing, even if some allegations have now appeared that question the role that the storm had in any claims.

The story is summed up neatly by a paragraph that says that the paper has found $42 million in spending that went to locations where wind never even reached the rate of a normal tropical storm.

The Regulator Bookstore will host the next reading of This is My Home. We invite people to come out and see the book live. Adam Rust will show pictures from the book and talk about manufactured housing.

CRA-NC executive director Peter Skillern will host the evening.

North Carolina Housing Coalition Executive Director Chris Estes will be on hand to discuss the legislative campaigns currently underway that involved manufactured housing. He’ll also share some of the years of work that have already gone into the consumer protections issues in North Carolina.

Neill Goslin from the Center for Self-Help will discuss the nuts and bolts of underwriting and making loans for manufactured housing.

The Regulator Bookshop is a wonderful independent bookseller, located at 720 9th Street in Durham, North Carolina.  Phone is 919.286.2700.  The evening begins at 7 pm. They will have copies of the book for signing and purchase, too.

There is parking across the street.

Residents at the Fox Ridge Trailer Park moved out of their homes on Aug. 31st, following a short notice that their park was closing.  Park owners RMN Enterprises closed the park in July.

The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader explains the story here.  What is sad is that this is hardly unusual.  It is just another day and another park closure.

Notice  a few things about this story.

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Birchwood RV Park in Durham, North Carolina has found a new way to put the flexibility and affordability of manufactured housing to use.

This park provides short-term leases for people who want a place to stay while they go to the hospitals in the Triangle.  Durham is home to Duke University Hospital, a VA Hospital, and to Durham Regional Hospital. Ten miles to the southwest is the UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital system.

That is not the entire population.  Some people rent mobile homes for even shorter stays.  An article in the Durham News says that the park is currently home to some long-term travelers from Australia.

The park is affordable.  A spot with water, electric, and sewer hookups costs $398 for a month.  A “dry” spot, without those amenities, is just $35 per month.  A week stay can be had for just $159 and a night is only $29.

The park is managed by a Thanh Pham, a former boat person who emigrated to the United States from Vietnam.   Pham lives on site at the 40 acre park, where 100 homes are spread out not far from Duke Forest.

All Parks Alliance for Change is hiring a community organizer to work in mobile home parks.  What a great opportunity!