Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

What’s Behind California’s Frozen Housing Market?

18 hours ago

Oil Prices Rise on Trade War Relief, US Pressure on Russia

20 hours ago

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is First Republican Lawmaker to Call Gaza Crisis a ‘Genocide’

21 hours ago

UK Will Recognize Palestinian Statehood in September, Barring Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

22 hours ago

Trump’s EPA to Repeal Core of Greenhouse Gas Rules in Major Deregulatory Move

23 hours ago

US Approval of Israel’s Gaza Offensive Drops to 32%, Poll Shows

23 hours ago

Shooter in New York Skyscraper Left Note Blaming NFL for Brain Injury, Mayor Says

1 day ago

Trump Eyes Aug 1 Trade Deals as EU, China Talks Continue, US Commerce Chief Says

1 day ago

Trump Says Many Are Starving in Gaza, Vows to Set up Food Centers

2 days ago
Mobile Home Inspections Need Improvement, Auditor Finds
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
July 10, 2020

Share

The state agency in charge of inspecting mobile home parks isn’t doing an adequate job, according to a state audit released Thursday.

Over the last decade, the Department of Housing and Community Development has not conducted inspections at more than half of the 3,640 parks under its watch, nor has it established procedures to monitor the parks.

Headshot of Elaine Howle

“Long gaps between inspectors’ visits to a park increase the risk that health and safety violations remain undetected and unreported.”auditor Elaine Howle

“Long gaps between inspectors’ visits to a park increase the risk that health and safety violations remain undetected and unreported,” state auditor Elaine Howle said in a letter to Sacramento leadership. “By improving its selection process for annual park inspections to include some parks that it has not visited in recent years and implementing guidance for informal visits, HCD could reduce the risks posed by health and safety violations at parks.”

The audit found that HCD met its legal minimum of inspecting at least 5% of parks annually for the last three years.

The state auditor conducted the investigation at the direction of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

Fresno County RV Park Shutdown After HCD Inspection

Although not mentioned in the audit, a Fresno County RV park is an example of what can go wrong when things go unchecked.

In 2018, HCD investigated Jack’s RV Resort, a mobile home park just outside of Mendota. Following GV Wire’s reporting of the dilapidated conditions, HCD found 161 health and safety violations.

Additionally, the owners allegedly rented 23 more spaces than the 20 they were permitted.

Most of the residents, many poor with barely anywhere else to turn, moved out. At least seven tenants filed a lawsuit against the owners in Fresno Superior Court.

According to court documents, the owners of the RV park failed to maintain the property, leading to “substandard, unsafe and unsanitary” conditions. The problems included electrical, sanitation, and pests.

The permit to operate the RV park expired in 2017, the lawsuit said. Once HCD inspected Jack’s RV Resort, the owners ignored timelines to fix the park.

The county closed the park for good in February 2019.

The case is expected to go to trial next April in front of Judge Kristi Culver Kapetan.

Audit: More Inspections, More Communication

The audit’s recommendations include:

— Developing a plan of prioritizing which mobile home parks to inspect.

— Improve documentation for what facilities have been visited, and the result of inspections.

— Consistency with inspections and refresher training for HCD staff.

— Improved communication with park owners and residents.

— Better procedures to monitor employee time and the use of state resources.

HCD: Agrees with Recommendations

HCD’s chief deputy director Zack Olmstead did not challenge the auditor’s findings.

“We concur with the recommendations and have already completed and implemented many of the recommendations provided in the report that illustrate areas of improvement to better protect the health and safety of California mobilehome park residents, park owners, and help secure the sustainability of property,” Olmstead responsed.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

California Under Tsunami Advisory After Magnitude 8.7 Earthquake

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Dies in DUI Crash, Driver Arrested

DON'T MISS

Madera County Wildfire Burns Near Fairmead, Containment at 0%

DON'T MISS

Watch Twin Meteor Showers Reach Their Simultaneous Peak in Summer Skies

DON'T MISS

New York Gunman Was Flagged by Security Camera System Before Attack, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

As Trump Cuts Education, Candidates Line Up for California’s Top Schools Job

DON'T MISS

US House Panel Rejects Immunity Request by Epstein Associate Maxwell

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s Vacant Property Ordinance Punishes the Wrong People: Rassamni

DON'T MISS

Trump Approval Rating Sinks to 40%, the Lowest of His Term, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

DON'T MISS

What’s Behind California’s Frozen Housing Market?

UP NEXT

As Trump Cuts Education, Candidates Line Up for California’s Top Schools Job

UP NEXT

What’s Behind California’s Frozen Housing Market?

UP NEXT

Marjorie Taylor Greene Is First Republican Lawmaker to Call Gaza Crisis a ‘Genocide’

UP NEXT

New Gallup Poll Reveals Most Immoral Behaviors In America

UP NEXT

What Does Trump Crackdown on Homelessness Mean for California?

UP NEXT

California Governor Candidate Stirs Outrage With Auschwitz ‘Unemployment Plan’ Post

UP NEXT

California May Soon Ban Selling New Glocks Like Kamala Harris Owns

UP NEXT

Trump Asks for Swift Deposition of Murdoch in Epstein Defamation Case

UP NEXT

California School Board Resigns After Audit Reveals $180M in Improper Funding

UP NEXT

NASA Says 20% of Workforce to Depart Space Agency

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Watch Twin Meteor Showers Reach Their Simultaneous Peak in Summer Skies

15 hours ago

New York Gunman Was Flagged by Security Camera System Before Attack, Sources Say

16 hours ago

As Trump Cuts Education, Candidates Line Up for California’s Top Schools Job

17 hours ago

US House Panel Rejects Immunity Request by Epstein Associate Maxwell

17 hours ago

Fresno’s Vacant Property Ordinance Punishes the Wrong People: Rassamni

18 hours ago

Trump Approval Rating Sinks to 40%, the Lowest of His Term, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

18 hours ago

What’s Behind California’s Frozen Housing Market?

18 hours ago

Tulare County Authorities Find Body in Sequoia National Park

19 hours ago

Oil Prices Rise on Trade War Relief, US Pressure on Russia

20 hours ago

Scottie Scheffler vs. Everybody: Open Champion Makes His Case Among the Greats

20 hours ago

California Under Tsunami Advisory After Magnitude 8.7 Earthquake

Update at 7:35 p.m. on July 29 The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a tsunami advisory for the California coast, with projected arri...

14 hours ago

14 hours ago

California Under Tsunami Advisory After Magnitude 8.7 Earthquake

Juan Carlos Mendoza Jr., 23, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter after a crash in Fresno County killed a 24-year-old passenger. (Fresno County SO)
14 hours ago

Fresno Man Dies in DUI Crash, Driver Arrested

A wildfire in Madera County, dubbed the 19 Fire, has burned 16 acres with 0% containment as of Tuesday, July 29, 2025, afternoon, according to CalFire. (CalFire)
15 hours ago

Madera County Wildfire Burns Near Fairmead, Containment at 0%

15 hours ago

Watch Twin Meteor Showers Reach Their Simultaneous Peak in Summer Skies

A man holding a rifle walks into an office building at 345 Park Avenue shortly before a shooting that killed several people, in the Midtown Manhattan district of New York City, U.S. July 28, 2025, in a still image taken from surveillance video. Surveillance Camera/Handout via REUTERS
16 hours ago

New York Gunman Was Flagged by Security Camera System Before Attack, Sources Say

Teacher Uses Globe While Instructing Her Students
17 hours ago

As Trump Cuts Education, Candidates Line Up for California’s Top Schools Job

Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stands at the podium to address Judge Alison Nathan during her sentencing in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S. June 28, 2022. (Reuters File)
17 hours ago

US House Panel Rejects Immunity Request by Epstein Associate Maxwell

18 hours ago

Fresno’s Vacant Property Ordinance Punishes the Wrong People: Rassamni

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend