Cindy’s connection to Old Hellgate Village (OHV) in Missoula runs deep. Not only did she grow up there, but her family built the park, spearheaded by her aunt who played a pivotal role in its creation and operation for many years. When her father passed away, he made sure his home in the park went to Cindy, knowing that she would find security there, especially given her ongoing health challenges due to a genetic disease. With never-ending medical expenses, inheriting the home provided Cindy with the stability she needed.
But Cindy’s story extends far beyond her own circumstances. She has dedicated her life to helping others by opening her home to women and children in need within her recovery network. Over the years, she has fostered and cared for numerous women and children, even adopting the son of one of the women she sheltered. Her generosity has created a haven for those in crisis, embodying the very essence of community.
The land that became OHV holds a dramatic and complex history. Cindy’s aunt and her husband originally lived on the homestead when a tragic accident changed everything – her husband died unexpectedly leaving her with a large piece of land and an unfinished home. The family came together to complete her aunt’s home, and eventually, they decided to transform the land into a trailer park.
At a time when women couldn’t obtain loans, all ownership remained under her late husband’s name. The park was sold a few times before ultimately becoming a Resident Owned Community (ROC).
For Cindy, the transition to a ROC has been a powerful and meaningful shift. “It’s so cool to be a part owner in a park that was started by my family,” she shares. Beyond the financial benefits, ROC homeownership has created a true sense of belonging. “People come together in times of crisis and tragedy, and it is truly a community,” she explains. “There’s more community in a mobile home park than anywhere else. Maybe it’s because we’re so close together, so you better get along!”
Cindy has passionately advocated on behalf of manufactured home parks for quite some time. In the 1990s, she served as a board member for Montana People’s Action, fighting for the rights of residents like herself. Today, she continues to champion the benefits of ROCs, showing that cooperative ownership can preserve affordability while fostering a strong community. At OHV, Cindy has found not just a house, but a home and a community that reflects her own generous spirit.
NeighborWorks Montana guided the residents through the purchase process and will continue to support them as they build the skills and leadership they need to manage their community. In most manufactured-home parks, homeowners own their homes and pay lot rent to the park owner for the use of the land. In resident owned communities the lot rent goes to the resident cooperative and is managed to meet community needs, maintain affordability, and foster a sense of unity amongst the residents.
About Montana ROCs
There are currently 22 resident owned communities in the state of Montana, with a total of 852 homes preserved across the state. Learn about all of the communities across Montana.
Are you a current park owner who is thinking about selling your park? NeighborWorks Montana has the financing, industry knowledge, and technical expertise to help your homeowners buy your community for its full value when you are ready to sell. View more information HERE or reach out to Adam Poeschl, [email protected].
About ROC USA
There are more than 320 ROCs in 21 states across the nation. NeighborWorks Montana provides the ROC program in Montana as part of the ROC USA® Network. The ROC USA® Network is made up of twelve non-profit affiliates across the country. The ROC program helps to provide safe, secure, and affordable housing in perpetuity, and it eliminates the risks for residents of rent increases or being evicted without cause.
