09/22/2026
Diaz said he learned about the program while doing laundry at his mobile home park. He contacted Alexander Waggoner, a program manager with the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust, or HEART, and soon received an application.
Weeks later, Waggoner called with the news that the couple could begin choosing a new home.
Their monthly loan payment is less than $400. The new home also gives their four grandchildren space to stay when they visit.
Another North Fair Oaks couple, Lizeth Sanchez and Ruben Alvarez, also used the program to replace an older travel trailer.
“Honestly, it feels so much better,” Sanchez said. “You live more comfortably. You have more space.”
Their loan payment is under $400 a month, while their total monthly housing costs, including space rent and other expenses, are about $1,500.
The county says the program is intended to preserve mobile home parks as a source of naturally occurring affordable housing while allowing residents to replace aging units with modern manufactured homes.
“Everyone deserves a home that is safe, dignified and secure, regardless of their income,” Supervisor Lisa Gauthier said.
HEART expects loan repayments to replenish the fund and eventually create a self-sustaining source of financing for future borrowers. The organization is also seeking another $3.5 million from cities and philanthropic partners, which could support roughly 30 additional loans.
Low-interest loans are helping lower-income residents buy new manufactured homes while preserving affordable housing in the county.
