A picture taken in one of the to-be-repaired mobile homes in Arcata. Photo courtesy of the city of Arcata.


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Arcata’s program to help mobile home owners repair their houses has begun. 

The Manufactured Housing Opportunity & Revitalization Program (MORE) pays for mobile home repairs, if the homes are in a mobile home park and owned by someone making less than 80% of Humboldt’s median income. Contractors hired by the city do the work. 

The program focuses on repairing violations of health and safety codes, as well as improving ADA accessibility. 

Arcata announced the program last year after being given a $3 million grant to fund the project by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. 

Arcata’s Director of Community Development David Loya gave an update at the city council meeting last night, highlighting some of the success the program has achieved. According to Loya, mobile homes are an important resource for people who don’t have enough money to buy a home or rent one, and this program is helping alleviate much of the burden on residents.

There were 46 applicants, 23 of which were funded. According to Loya, two of the issues repaired in two different houses were ceilings riddled with holes and a bathroom floor so spongy the occupants never filled the bathtub up out of fear it would collapse under them. There were, of course, plenty of mold-related issues to clean up as well, as well as electrical, plumbing and flooring snafus. Two homes were in rough enough condition that they qualified to be totally replaced. 

The program will end in August of 2026, or when the money runs out. 

“Thanks to the MORE program, Arcata will be able to repair this aging housing stock, increasing the amount of high-quality housing available in the city,” Loya said.

Nicholas Brichta,  one of Arcata’s Community Development Specialists, did much of the legwork for the program. He told the Outpost he was glad that they were starting to fix up the homes that needed it the most.

Brichta also said that the program is still accepting applications, and encouraged people to apply, especially if their house was cited for a code violation.

“It’s been a lot of work making sure everything is set up correctly,” Brichta said. “There’s a lot riding on this program for people. It takes a while, but it’ll be worth it when it’s done.”