Residents voice frustrations over rising housing costs at Brookview Mobile Home Park

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — Residents at Brookview Mobile Home Park staged a show of solidarity Tuesday afternoon, gathering to address mounting financial pressures that have strained their ability to afford their homes in what was supposed to be an affordable housing community.

The scene reflected a deeper divide: while park management hosted a pizza party for residents on one side of the street, residents organized their own gathering directly across the way.

Stephanie Mikkelson, a resident at the park, expressed frustration over the lack of meaningful dialogue with upper management.

"We've asked for a sit down, meeting with the upper management. Somebody who can make decisions, who can make changes to the lease. We're all adults here. So I guess I would have rather seen us come to the table. Let's sit down. Let's talk about it. Let's hash it out. Let's make some changes. But we already know they're not going to do that," Mikkelson said.

The core issue centers on what residents describe as relentless increases in lot rents, fees, and other housing-related costs. For many residents, these escalating expenses have transformed what was once an accessible housing option into an increasingly unaffordable one...

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Leo’s notes: Concerns from Brookview Mobile Home Park residents highlight the importance of preserving manufactured housing as one of Wisconsin’s largest sources of naturally affordable housing. As housing costs continue to rise, protecting existing affordable communities is just as critical as building new ones. Long-term workforce housing strategies must balance new development with preservation to maintain affordability for working families.

Ken Notes: This is happening across the nation and it is displacing many from affordable housing options. These residents need some protections legislatively to keep new owners from turning parks into extremely profitable cash cows.