Cathedral City
CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
COMMISSION/BOARD/COMMITTEE APPLICATION
Commission/Board/Committee Mobile Home Fair Practices Commission on which you would like to serve:
NAME: Erik Castillo
HOME ADDRESS:
HOME PHONE: CELL PHONE:
E-mail ADDRESS:
LENGTH OF RESIDENCY IN CATHEDRAL CITY: 1 year and 3 months IF EMPLOYED, PLEASE LIST WHERE YOU WORK AND POSITION YOU HOLD:
Sr. Account Executive at Instructure
LETTER OF INTEREST
July 24th, 2025
Dear Cathedral City Council.
The drive to serve my community, and our most vulnerable, brings me to submit this letter of interest. Whereas owning a home has become increasingly unattainable for many members of our community, and across our state, mobile homes are one of the last remaining options for affordable housing, especially for our most vulnerable community members, including, but not limited to, seniors, immigrants, and those with disabilities.
It's likely evident that mobile homes and manufactured housing hold a close place in my heart.
The first home I ever lived in as a child was a manufactured home, and close loved ones were able to escape domestic violence only because they were able to move into a mobile home.
Where mobile homes can often serve as a last line of defense from homelessness for many, their inhabitants have become a target of many looking to squeeze them due to their limited mobility, in the name of maximizing profits.
According to the New York Times (2022), between 2020 and 2021, 23% of all manufactured housing community purchases were made by private equity, up from only 13% between 2017 and 2019. In some cases, these firms increased the rent up to 60% in their first year of ownership. While I recognize the right of park owners to receive just and reasonable return on their properties, it is evident we must protect our community members who live in mobile homes from unreasonable changes that threaten one of the last forms of affordable housing.
With my education in political science, past experience living in manufactured housing, and knowledge of how other municipalities are protecting mobile home communities, it would be an honor to serve our community on the Mobile Home Fair Practices Commission. I look forward to further discussing this opportunity and thank you for your consideration.
All the best,
Erik Castillo