OSTA: Empowering Park & Marina Residents

Send us Fan Mail Serious problems in a manufactured home community rarely start with a single dramatic moment. They usually arrive as a slow drip: confusing notices, sudden “policy updates,” rent pressure, unanswered repairs, and that nagging sense that you’re on your own. This class is designed to give Oregon manufactured home Park and floating home residents a clear on-ramp from frustration to a...

Send us Fan Mail Tenants across Oregon are ready to be heard, and we’re opening the door wide. We’re hosting at 10 a.m. Zoom drop-ins throughout the week, inviting residents of manufactured home communities to share their top three concerns—whether it’s broken promises, slow landlord response, or shady fees—and to add real examples through our quick survey and chat. By structuring sessions across...

Send us Fan Mail Tired of watching park problems get brushed aside while the rules seem to work only one way? We’re turning up the volume on Oregon’s manufactured housing issues with two concrete steps: a meeting with the Attorney General to press for real enforcement and statewide Zoom hearings designed to collect documented cases that lawmakers can’t ignore. If you’ve experienced weak mediation,...

Send us Fan Mail Ready for real impact at the Capitol? We’re heading to Salem for a tight, practical training designed to help you tell your housing story so lawmakers listen—and act. With guidance from Oregon Law Center leaders John Van Landingham and Sybil Hebb, we break down how to craft a concise narrative, make a specific ask, and follow up in a way that builds trust and momentum. It’s a fast...

Send us Fan Mail The clock is ticking on Oregon’s 35‑day short session, and that compressed timeline can either sideline renters or sharpen our influence. We take you inside a practical game plan for making the most of limited days and limited bills, with a laser focus on enforcing existing rental laws, boosting agency responsiveness, and proving—again—that we’re organized, present, and paying att...

Send us Fan Mail A holiday greeting turns into a blueprint for real-world change. We start with gratitude, a few comfort-movie picks, and a fruitcake story that somehow survived 14 years, then follow the thread to where community joy becomes community power. When neighbors talk over dinner or on a winter walk, patterns emerge: pressure to stop organizing, invasive surveillance proposals, and confu...

Send us Fan Mail Hungry neighbors and holiday budgets collide long before the lights come down, so we set out to answer a hard question: what actually helps right now? We walk through the rising need created by SNAP cuts and share a counterintuitive lesson from our own park—don’t start a new food bank just because it feels proactive. Strengthen the ones that already exist. We break down the unseen...

Send us Fan Mail The room was standing-room only, and the energy was unmistakable: tenants came ready to learn, share, and act. We walked through the biggest wins from our first OSTA conference in five years, from HB 3054 momentum to the practical tools that help residents challenge misinformation with confidence. You’ll hear how a simple workshop turned into Monday-morning action, with neighbors...

Send us Fan Mail The clock is ticking as tickets for the Oregon State Tenants Association conference are vanishing fast – already 75-80% sold with no door sales available. This gathering promises to be a landmark event for manufactured and floating home residents seeking to understand their rights and build stronger communities. Set your calendar for this information-packed day featuring an impres...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating Oregon's tenant protection laws just got easier with this essential update from Bill Bateman and the Oregon State Tenants Association (OSTA) team. We tackle the two questions flooding our inbox: Yes, the OSTA conference is definitely happening, and yes, tickets are still available—though we're already 50% sold out! Mark your calendars for this information-pack...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to take control of your mobile home community? The upcoming OSTA Conference might be your first step toward that reality. Scheduled for October 4th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield , tickets are already half sold at just $25 per person – the same price as our pre-pandemic gathering. We're particularly excited to offer a special incentive: bring a neighbor from yo...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating tenant rights in Oregon just got clearer. The Oregon State Tenants Association brings you crucial updates on several fronts affecting manufactured home community residents throughout the state. We've identified and resolved a persistent issue with check processing that had caused delays for many members. Your financial support now has two pathways – traditional che...

Send us Fan Mail Mark your calendars for a landmark event in mobile home advocacy! The Oregon State Tenants Association (OSTA) Conference returns this October 4th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield after a five-year absence. We've faced countless challenges since 2019—from pandemic disruptions to escalating housing concerns—yet our commitment to manufactured and floating home residents r...

Send us Fan Mail Facing soaring housing costs and an active wildfire season, Oregon tenants need clear, actionable information more than ever. We're tackling these two burning issues head-on with practical guidance that could save your wallet—and potentially your life. The recently signed HB 3054 brings significant relief by capping rent increases at 6%, with limited exceptions. Despite some...

Send us Fan Mail A landmark victory for Oregon's manufactured housing residents has been secured with the razor-thin passage of House Bill 3054. Passing by just a single vote—which remarkably included Republican support—this legislation represents a true "David and Goliath" triumph against powerful industry interests. The bill, awaiting the governor's signature, includes an eme...

Send us Fan Mail HB 3054A has reached the Oregon Senate floor for its final vote, representing a critical protection for 62,000 manufactured homeowners against excessive rent increases that force seniors and families from their communities. • Bill protects manufactured home residents who own their homes but rent the land underneath • Many residents are seniors on fixed incomes who chose manufactur...

Send us Fan Mail The fight for manufactured home residents' rights takes center stage as HB 3054 faces critical hurdles in the Oregon Senate. Fresh from testifying at the Salem hearing, there's cautious optimism that the bill can clear committee with support from Senator Jeff Golden and Representative Marsh, though the path through the full Senate remains challenging due to partisan oppo...

Send us Fan Mail The countdown is on! With just four days remaining until the critical State Senate hearing on housing legislation, the Oregon State Tenants Association is rallying supporters statewide to make their voices heard. This pivotal moment represents the culmination of years of organizing and advocacy work that could significantly impact tenant protections throughout Oregon. In this urge...

Send us Fan Mail The affordable housing crisis has reached a tipping point in the Pacific Northwest, with a ray of hope emerging from Washington state. After years of advocacy, Washington lawmakers have approved a crucial 10% cap on annual rent increases, countering the alarming 43% rise in median residential rents (adjusted for inflation) that has far outpaced the modest 26% growth in renters&apo...

Send us Fan Mail Deceptive tactics are being deployed against manufactured home residents across Oregon, with park owners circulating misleading videos to undermine tenant protections as crucial legislation hangs in the balance. Bill Bateman, president of the Oregon State Tenants Association (OSTA), shares some encouraging news about HB 3054A narrowly passing the House before diving into a troubli...

Send us Fan Mail The fight for mobile home residents' rights hangs by a thread in Oregon as HB 3054 narrowly passed the House Housing Committee on a straight party-line vote. Had just one Democrat voted differently, the bill would have failed, highlighting the precarious position of tenant protections in manufactured housing communities. Behind these legislative battles are real people facing...

Send us Fan Mail Affordable housing represents one of the most pressing challenges for manufactured home residents across Oregon, with many facing rent increases of 10% annually that have doubled their housing costs in just five years. In this crucial update, OSTA board member Rochelle Love Elder joins Bill Bateman to break down the proposed changes in House Bill 3054 that could dramatically impro...

Send us Fan Mail Beneath the surface of Oregon's affordable housing crisis lurks a predatory practice that's stripping equity from manufactured and floating home owners across the state. While most homeowners understand the concept of rent increases, few grasp the devastating impact of "rent reset" until they try to sell their homes. When Bill Bateman sits down with Angela Garv...

Send us Fan Mail As February wraps up, we dive deep into the latest developments surrounding housing policies in Oregon, particularly the complexities of HB 3054 and its noteworthy effects on mobile home community members. In this episode, we challenge park owners to open their books and show how funding is utilized. this could provide vital insights into the relationship between small park owners...

Send us Fan Mail A mere week has passed since the hearings, and the ripples of change are already evident. We want to salute the Twin Cedars Manufactured Homes community and the leadership of Judy Annin.  Twenty-five residents journeyed to Salem to testify, many for their first time! A special thank you to each one of you.  From organizing and strategizing to confronting fears of retribution, this...