Jay Voters Deliver Decisive Win for Mobile Home Residents with Lot Rent Moratorium

PHOTO: Jay resident JoAn Gray speaks at a press conference on November 24.

Jay voters approved a mobile home park rent moratorium Tuesday night by a 449–213 vote, handing a major victory to residents who have spent months organizing for stability and protection from displacement.

The measure immediately halts excessive lot rent increases, offering residents relief while the town works toward a longer-term solution, such as an ordinance adopted by other towns across the state.

“It had to be done – it was a necessity for our livelihoods,” said Tanya Dwyer, a resident of Hidden Circle Park. “It’s been a long journey, but we saw success at the end of the tunnel. We fought for what we thought was right. Now people don’t have to worry about being homeless or losing their homes, because everybody saw that it’s going to help us.”

The vote comes as communities across Maine and the country grapple with corporate investors purchasing mobile home parks, raising rents, and reshaping local housing markets. In Jay, residents have organized across parks to push back and have built momentum that led to this week’s decisive result.

“Congratulations to the residents who organized, spoke up, and supported one another throughout this process,” said Trevor Doiron, a candidate for the Maine House of Representatives in District 76, which includes Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Falls.

“It was truly inspiring to see neighbors come together in such a meaningful way. The Town of Jay is at the forefront of a growing nationwide effort to push back against out-of-state firms buying up mobile home parks, raising rents, and threatening the character of small communities like ours.

“From Hidden Circle becoming the first park in Maine to utilize the new right of first refusal law, to yesterday’s vote, our community has taken meaningful steps to ensure mobile homes remain safe, affordable, and locally controlled. This broader trend deserves the attention of policymakers at every level, and it’s important to me that mobile home owners can continue to live affordably in the homes they’ve worked hard to own.”