The Urban Institute’s event, Manufactured for the Future: Building a Climate-Resilient Manufactured Housing Stock, brings together housing experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore how factory-built housing can play a larger role in addressing the U.S. affordable housing crisis while also improving climate resilience. The discussion highlights innovations, policy opportunities, and challenges related to preserving existing manufactured homes and ensuring the next generation of homes are designed to withstand increasing climate risks.
Panelists discuss strategies to expand resilient factory-built housing production, strengthen policies that support affordability, and better protect vulnerable communities from climate hazards. The discussion features housing leaders, including Next Step Network President & Founder Stacey Epperson and Next Step Board Vice-Chair Dr. Arica Young. The conversation also examines federal, state, and local policy barriers that affect placement, financing, and long-term durability of factory-built housing.
Why It Matters
Offsite construction provides an important pathway to affordable homeownership for millions of Americans. However, research shows that a significant portion of the existing housing stock is located in areas exposed to climate hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. Addressing these vulnerabilities through stronger standards, better financing tools, and supportive policy reforms will help ensure factory-built housing remains a durable and scalable affordable housing solution.