Tenants rally for ownership of two Bozeman mobile home parks

State and local leaders joined the residents of two Bozeman mobile home parks to urge the current owner to sell them the land they are currently renting. The land was listed for sale in July Tenants of these parks say that resident ownership is the only way to ensure long-term affordability and stability.

Together, the Mountain Meadows and King Arthur parks are home to 338 mobile homes. The parks’ tenant unions began developing a strategy after learning that their parks were listed for sale. Bozeman Tenants United organized a press conference on Aug. 25 as a plea for negotiation with the current owner of the parks, Gary Oakland.

“This is about the future of affordable housing in Gallatin County,” said Emily LaShelle, organizing director for Bozeman Tenants United. “Right now, residents are paying rent that goes to make a landlord rich. If these parks become resident-owned communities, those payments would instead build equity for the tenants and allow them to call the shots.”

LaShelle added that the most common concern they hear from residents is the threat of rent hikes without any corresponding investment in infrastructure. “Some fear the land could be sold to a developer who sees greater value in replacing the parks with luxury apartments,” they said.

“Right now, residents are subject to somebody else’s rules who doesn’t even live in the park. Collective ownership would allow them to make the rules together as a community,” they said.

The speakers at the press conference included representatives from many community organizations, such as local politicians and members of Bozeman Tenants United. Additionally, each park’s tenant union president — who was elected by fellow residents — addressed the crowd.

Deputy Mayor Joey Morrison, Gallatin County Commissioner Zac Brown, State Rep. Brian Putnam, State Sen. Cora Neumann and others also joined to voice their support. Neumann said she was representing 12 other state legislators who had signed on in support of the effort.

“There is no ceiling on rent in our communities, and to landlords that means profit,” she said. “We have a responsibility as government leaders to stand up and make sure Bozeman stays a place for families.”

In an interview following the press conference, LaShelle said that the coalition intended to demonstrate that residents have broad community support, including their neighbors, city and county leaders and members of the state legislature.

For example, Putnam recently wrote a letter to Oakland, urging him to consider selling the land to the tenants. As of the date of publication, no response has been received, according to LaShelle.

Residents are pursuing two possible paths forward, according to Morrison. The first is negotiating directly with Oakland for the opportunity to purchase the land. If the tenants are not the highest bidder, their next option is ensuring that any new landlord is willing to negotiate and collaborate with residents to prevent displacement from rent hikes or redevelopment, Morrison said.

“The future of housing in this country is a precarious one,” he said. “The ability to set a precedent for the state of Montana — that you need to first negotiate with the people who live on the land —  is a fundamental shift in the tenant-landlord dynamic. We have the backs of King Arthur and Mountain Meadows residents in their fight and negotiations.”

Residents could also face challenges moving their mobile homes. “Relocating one can cost upwards of $25,000, and even if residents could afford it, there are few vacant lots left in Gallatin County,” LaShelle said.

During the conference, community member Mario Carr spoke on behalf of the residents of both parks. “This home was and is our only option for living in Bozeman,” he said. “Mr. Oakland, we ask that we have the opportunity to own the land that we live on.”

Residents and their supporters said that success would mean securing a deal to become a resident-owned community. According to LaShelle, that outcome would allow residents to remain in place, set rules collectively and avoid displacement caused by redevelopment or steep rent increases.

The event also connected the fight for mobile home park ownership to the larger housing crisis in Gallatin County.

“I think anybody in Gallatin County right now will tell you there is a housing crisis,” LaShelle said. “Mobile home parks are one of the last options for affordable housing that don’t require a huge amount of government subsidies.”

For LaShelle, the effort in Bozeman has also become part of a broader conversation about tenant organization. “Other tenant unions across the country have had success flexing their collective power to get to the bargaining table and have a say in their futures,” they said.