<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Go9ps_1DWRWYTY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Go9ps_1DWRWYTY00" width="1657" height="1104" ><figcaption>During a Sanger City Council meeting on July 16, 2026, residents of Vista Del Monte Mobile Home Park speak during the public comment to request aid from the council following recent rent increases. (Jon Acevedo)</figcaption></figure>SANGER – One of the biggest fears for Sanger mobile home residents has begun to manifest, and a congregation of local seniors came before the city council to once again ask for a helping hand. On July 16, a group of 10 residents of Vista Del Monte Mobile Home Park spoke during the public comment to share their experiences with recent rent increases, and requested that the city look into a rent control ordinance for mobile homes. Each speaker shared different pieces of a complex financial puzzle, but they all touched on a common theme: as the cost of living continues to rise and income remains nearly stagnant, many seniors are at risk of being priced out of their homes.While many mobile home residents own their units and have paid them off, they still need to rent the land that the mobile home rests on. With some residents not having any family to fall back on, and mobile home relocation costs in the thousands, moving out is far from an easy option.“Mobile park living is not like a conventional landlord-tenant relationship,” said Steve Frauenheim, Vista Del Monte resident, during the public comment. “We are homeowners whose biggest investment is held hostage by the ground it sits on.”The topic first arose in August of last year, when residents expressed their concerns that following the sale of the Vista Del Monte property, rental rate increases would outpace their income under the new ownership. Thus, residents at the time proposed exploration of a city ordinance that could establish rent control for mobile home parks. While the city council had seemed mostly on board with helping the seniors in some way, finding the method to do so was not as simple. During the Aug. 21, 2025 meeting, Councilmember Esmeralda Hurtado said that she would discuss the possibility of getting assistance from her employer, Self-Help Enterprises, while city staff researched what a rent control ordinance for the city could look like.At the time, City Attorney Shannon Chaffin, City Manager Nathan Olson and Councilmember Michael Montelongo expressed concerns that pursuing a rent control ordinance could discourage future development. Or result in the eviction of all residents if the new property owners decided to use the land for other purposes if they were displeased with the rent control. Before any action could be taken by the city or an outside organization, the Vista Del Monte property was eventually purchased and is now managed by Harmony International, a privately-owned company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. According to the company’s website, Harmony International has more than 50 communities across the U.S. and Canada. <h2>Budget balancing acts</h2>During the July 16, 2026 meeting, the 10 speakers gave details on monthly budgets for seniors living primarily off of Social Security income. They also detailed how much their rent has increased and how rent control ordinances in other cities have helped mobile home park residents stay afloat. The speakers were supported by even more residents who filled seats within the council chamber, with applause erupting after each speaker. Gloria Meyer, who identified herself as a Vista Del Monte resident of 17 years, said in her comments that from 2020 to 2025, her rent had risen from around $385 to $440, including utilities. After the most recent rent increase, Meyer said her rent has risen to around $520. With the 2026 Social Security cost of living adjustment being just 2.8%, a difference of $80 can pose significant challenges for some seniors. Resident Jane Williams followed Meyer’s comments, adding onto her points by presenting what she said were two real budgets from Vista Del Monte residents. One example was that of a single resident with a monthly income of about $1,650. Totalling costs like insurance, phone and internet, household supplies, gas, insurance and more, the resident is left with just $155 a month for non-essentials. “One car repair and one copay, and that person is in the red,” said Williams during the public comment. The second example provided was that of a retired couple with a combined monthly income of around $2,000, and who are still paying off the mortgage on their mobile home. According to Williams, this couple’s monthly essential expenses total $90 more than their income, and they are “dipping into savings, skipping meals and delaying medications” to get by. Williams acknowledged that living paycheck to paycheck is not an experience exclusive to senior mobile home residents, but emphasized the extra challenges that come with that demographic.“Everyone knows that inflation has been brutal, but when you’re on a fixed income, it’s not a statistic; it’s a slow crisis that creeps into every part of your life,” Williams said in her comments. Toward the end of the public comments on this matter, community member Tom Westerfield cited a handful of mobile home rent control ordinances from other cities that residents believe could serve as examples for the city of Sanger.Westerfield pointed to cities like San Rafael and Santa Rosa, which allow for rent increases based on a percentage of the annual consumer price index, which measures inflation.“We are not asking for a radical experiment, we are asking Sanger to join a long list of responsible California cities that protect their senior mobile home communities from unpredictable rent hikes,” said Westerfield in his comments.<h2>Harmony, city officials respond</h2>After the comments from the 10 Vista Del Monte residents, property manager Kassandra Garnica took to the podium to outline some of the improvements that have been made to the community since its acquisition. According to Garnica, approximately $421,000 have been invested in the park over the last seven months, with around $400,000 of that going toward repaving the park’s roadways and improving safety and accessibility. Garnica said that other investments include $12,000 to update the park entrance sign, $1,590 for a new park map sign, $4,700 to repair tripping hazards on the pool deck and more. She added that resources have also been invested to improve quality of life within the community, such as creating a monthly newsletter, and a recent resource fair which gathered organizations such as Farmers Insurance, Kaiser Permanente, Adopt-a-Grandparent and more. “We are proud of the progress that has been made over the past seven months, and we remain committed to continue the investment in Vista Del Monte,” said Garnica in her comments. “These projects are just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to making additional investments that will benefit residents and the community in the months and years ahead.”Some of the residents had said in their comments that the park now charges new residents more than $800 a month for new residents, but Garnica closed out her comments by saying that while “similar quality” locations pay in the $800 range, Vista Del Monte charges “significantly lower than the competition” at $520, including utilities. Once the public comment portion of the meeting had closed, City Attorney Shannon Chaffin spoke up to clarify that since this topic was not an item on the agenda, the council could not directly speak on it at that time. Addressing some of the requests made by the Vista Del Monte residents, Chaffin took a moment to offer his legal insights on the matter. Echoing past meetings’ concerns about unintended consequences, Chaffin said that if a mobile home rent stabilization ordinance were to be put in place, the need for a fair market return to the property owner could actually result in a rent increase.“The concern is that if we’re currently here (hand lowered) and the fair market is here (hand raised), it basically gives them the green light for rents to be raised,” said Chaffin to the public. At the very end of the city council meeting, during staff and councilmember reports, Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Martinez and Councilmember Dolores Melendez both expressed their hopes that staff will follow up with the residents to further explore options that could provide some assistance.Councilmember Michael Montelongo agreed with Chaffin’s previous comments, expressing concern that stepping in could negatively affect the residents in the long run. However, he also said he would not mind if the council decided to move forward, so long as the risks have been clearly outlined. Speaking on a point made by one of the 10 speakers about a lack of alternative living space for seniors, Montelongo acknowledged that Elderberry at Bethel is one of the city’s only other options for senior living, and it has a years-long wait list. “I know a friend of mine that’s on the list for Elderberry, and so far he’s been at it for two years and has not gotten a call,” said Montelongo. “I think it’s time for us to start really navigating and see what we could do for another senior living.”Responding to Martinez’s and Melendez’s requests, Chaffin noted that staff ran some general calculations in response to comments from previous meetings, but said “the numbers were not looking good” to support a rent stabilization ordinance. Chaffin told the council that if members of the community were to organize a “de facto” study of rent rates and amenities at other sites, it would likely result in a similar conclusion. “I think it’ll probably quickly reveal that the rates they’re getting here are much lower than rates in the surrounding communities that are not rent controlled. In other words, the market rate here is still low,” Chaffin told the council. City Manager Nathan Olson ended by saying that staff could reach out to Garnica, as well as a liaison for the Vista Del Monte residents, to engage more personally with both parties and get some further direction.</div></body>

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SANGER – One of the biggest fears for Sanger mobile home residents has begun to manifest, and a congregation of local seniors came before the city council to once again ask for a helping hand. On July 16, a group of 10 residents of Vista Del Monte Mobile Home...

Sanger mobile home residents return for rent control

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SANGER – One of the biggest fears for Sanger mobile home residents has begun to manifest, and a congregation of local seniors came before the city council 

Sanger mobile home residents return for rent control

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