Montgomery, AL – Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a proclamation declaring the week of May 6th through May 12th to be “Manufactured and Modular Housing Week.” The proclamation was issued in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the national Fair Housing Act and the 49th anniversary of the founding of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association (AMHA).
“We are grateful that Gov. Ivey has chosen to recognize our industry and the industry’s contribution to the state’s economy,” said AMHA Chairman David Brewer. “Our industry in this state creates thousands of jobs, pays millions of dollars in tax revenue and, most importantly, helps millions of people throughout the country achieve the American Dream of homeownership.”
One out of every six Alabamians lives in a manufactured or modular home. Alabama also consistently ranks among the top four states in the nation for manufactured housing production. Alabama’s 13 manufactured housing plants create around 4,000 jobs, while thousands of more jobs are created by the industry’s service providers, retailers, installers, community owners and finance companies.
Alabama’s manufactured housing industry also plays a key role in responding to the nation’s natural disasters by providing temporary emergency housing, commonly referred to as “FEMA units” as they are built at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for those who have lost their homes as a result of tornados, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
“A lot of people don’t realize just how important Alabama’s manufactured housing industry is to our state and our country,” said AMHA Deputy Director Lance Latham. “This proclamation is a great way for us to raise awareness about our industry and the homes we build. We appreciate Gov. Ivey taking the time to recognize our industry and honor those who are involved in the industry or live in one of our homes.”
Manufactured homes are the only type of housing that is built to a nation-wide standard. All manufactured homes must be built to standards established by the national Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Manufactured homes are inspected by government regulators during construction before the home can leave the plant, and all manufactured homes that are installed in Alabama – including pre-owned homes – must be inspected by the state and meet the state’s federally-approved installation standards.
All manufactured homes built and installed in Alabama must meet Wind Zone 1 standards, meaning they can withstand sustained winds of 70 miles per hour at a minimum. Along the coastal region of the state, manufactured homes must meet Wind Zone 2 standards, meaning they can withstand sustained winds of at least 100 miles per hour.
Manufactured homes are built using the same materials that are used in site-built homes but are less expensive because manufacturers save money by buying materials in bulk and building the homes inside a plant using a more efficient process that allows manufacturers to avoid costly weather delays and higher labor costs that can increase the price of a site-built home. This is why a manufactured home can cost 35 percent less per square foot than a site-built home.
The Alabama Manufactured Housing Association is a trade association that represents manufacturers, installers, retailers, community owners, finance companies, suppliers and others involved in the manufactured housing industry.
