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Story Archive

Story of the Week: Amber Hickey (Greenfield Center, NY)

.My name is Amber Hickey, and I am the president of the Hoffman Tenant Advocacy Group, representing 16 communities in Hoffman Home parks in Saratoga County, NY.

I purchased my home in 2024 with the expectation of gaining a wonderful home and becoming part of a thriving community. I was assured that I would have access to public water and sewer, and that the lot rent would never increase. However, my experience was quite different. Upon moving in, I discovered that my home had a leaking roof, siding issues, water coming in through the back door, and soft spots in the floor. I found myself caught in a struggle between Hoffman Homes and the manufacturer of my home to get these issues resolved. Each party kept pointing fingers at the other, and I became frustrated with the endless cycle of trying to get my brand-new home into the condition it should have been..

To make matters worse, I received a surprise when I saw my lease: not only was I required to pay lot rent, but I was also responsible for property and school taxes. I soon learned that I was not only living in swamp land, but also in protected wetlands.

As I began to meet and talk with my neighbors, I quickly realized that I was not alone in my frustrations. Unfortunately, this also meant that I discovered a much larger problem. I started going door to door in every community owned by Hoffman Homes, listening to the heartaches and anger of my fellow residents.  New homeowners find serious issues with their properties. Older homes face ongoing violations and harassment. There is a shocking lack of transparency from our park owner, and it’s nearly impossible to reach someone on the phone who genuinely cares about our situation or is willing to fix it. 

In addition to these issues, two communities are grappling with water contamination problems that have yet to be addressed. Some residents share septic tanks that regularly overflow, causing sewage to back up into their homes or sit on the ground. We are faced with falling trees that damage our homes and cars, yet we are told that we are responsible for paying for the repairs. Even after paying for capital improvements over the past three years, we still deal with dead trees that we have repeatedly asked to have removed. 

Additionally, some homes have mold issues, and there are residents who cannot shower because of health concerns regarding the water. We have flooding problems, lawn issues, and the list goes on. Not to mention, many of the 55-and-over communities are paying the highest lot rent of any parks owned by Hoffman Homes.

People have even described their living situations as akin to hostage situations or concentration camps, filled with frustration, isolation, and anger.

I started the Tenant Advocacy Group to give residents a voice. I reached out to MHAction to help organize our efforts and bring hope to our communities. We are stronger together, and many voices will have a greater impact than just one.

I live in one of the largest counties in New York for manufactured homes, and I desire to be the change for Hoffman Homes communities and all manufactured home parks throughout New York State. This is the last affordable housing option for many people. Homes should be safe havens and sanctuaries, yet park owners are creating the opposite environment. They are financially drowning residents and providing no way out, using bullying and harassment to instill fear and maintain control for profit.

I want to address the systemic problems we face in manufactured home parks. I aim to partner with county and state officials to bring about meaningful change, not only in my communities but for all communities across the state. We must restore safe havens, ensure access to clean drinking water, promote health, and, most importantly, provide affordability and peace of mind.

Matt Chapman (Waukee, IA)