Katie Phang

I'd like to thank all of you for having me here tonight.

I'm very honored.

I live in Windsor State's manufactured home community in Diamonddale, Michigan, just outside of Lansing.

I'm here tonight because private equity has stolen my retirement, turned my life upside down, and soon will leave me homeless.

I spent 45 years working as a bookkeeper.

I traveled a lot for my job, so living in manufactured communities has always been convenient and affordable.

They were good places to live.

They were safe.

Neighbors looked out for one another.

Upkeep was easy, and we could count on maintenance by the park owners.

The best park I lived in was Windsor States, which convinced me that's where I would go back to buy my last home, last home that I'd get to pick.

I made a financial plan to determine what I could afford, and I bought my last house in Windsor.

And it was great.

It was exactly what I hoped for, and it was a good, good neighborhood.

Then the private equities came along, and the first place they bought was only there for six months.

Then they bought, just sold it to another firm, another private equity, and they took advantage of the fact that we're trapped.

We can't move our homes.

They raised the rent.

They added all kinds of fees.

They reduced their staffing.