WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Manufactured Housing Industry Upset Over FEMA Contracts

Manufactured Housing Industry Upset Over FEMA Contracts

By Andrew Hasbun
andrew@wlbt.net

More than 1,000 manufactured homes that were ready to go to the coast after Katrina were never used by FEMA.

Instead, many out of state manufactures were tapped to build and install manufactured homes.

For many hurricane survivors, a manufactured home might seem like a dream. Mississippi retailers tried to make it real.

"There were 1200 homes across the state from various retailers, but we did not get a response from FEMA," said Jennifer Hall, Executive Director of the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association.

One reason, FEMA likes their manufactured homes to be able to withstand 110 m.p.h. winds. The housing association's aren't that strong, but officials there wonder why thousands of survivors are living in FEMA's travel trailers. They also can't handle extreme winds.

"To me, if you've got homes that could be used for temporary housing in the state why would you not use them if you could," said Hall.

Lexington Homes in Holmes County is the only manufacturer in the state contracted to build units up to FEMA standards.

Those units must also be installed by qualified workers. Manufactured homes in Mississippi must be set up by a state licensed installer, but many contracts have been awarded to out of state installers.

Before the hurricane, the state Fire Marshall's office issued 153 licenses to manufactured home installers and transporters. Since the hurricane, 73 licenses have been issued, many of to out of state workers.

To deal with the influx of workers, the state has set up three special training sessions for installers new to the state.

The housing association represents installers based in Mississippi. Hall says many willing and able to work, haven't been hired.

"It seems Mississippians are always at the bottom when they should be at the top," said Hall. "Mississippians should be helping Mississippians. That is the bottom line."

The one manufacturer tapped to build homes was actually subcontracted to do so by an Alabama company.