Mobile Home Rent Initiative Fair to All

* Re “ ‘Free Market’ Mobile Home Initiative Scares Residents” (July 10): There are about 30,000 spaces in over 200 mobile home parks in Orange County. Only five of those parks are under a rent control ordinance passed by San Juan Capistrano over 15 years ago. The March, 1996, ballot initiative sponsored by the Californians for Mobilehome Fairness will do three things:

* It follows the lead of the other 31 states in the nation that have preempted the adoption of rent control at the local level.

* It phases out rent control in the five San Juan Capistrano parks as each space is vacated. All existing residents under rent control will remain under rent control until they decide to move.

* It implements a rent credit program for low-income mobile home park residents.

When the initiative passes:

* No one will be forced out of their homes.

* There will be no change in rent policies in Orange County mobile home parks. The five parks under rent control will remain under rent control and the other 200-plus parks will continue to charge rents based on the market.

* Orange County mobile home park owners, through their association, the Manufactured Housing Educational Trust, have sponsored a rent credit/subsidy program for the past seven years. This program is available to all qualified low-income mobile home park residents. The state initiative will keep this program in place.

Mobile home parks currently provide some of the most affordable housing opportunities available in the county--all without rent control. Rents charged in Orange County mobile home parks are based on the market--just as they should be in a free-market system.

VICKIE TALLEY

Executive director

Manufactured Housing Educational Trust