LEAP ROC

LEAP is the Idaho affiliate of the national organization ROC USA. In a resident-owned community (ROC), homeowners form a non-profit business known as a cooperative which purchases the community from the current owner. This is one way we can help preserve the affordable housing that exists in Idaho.

Each household in a ROC is a Member of the cooperative, which owns the land and manages the business that is the community. Members continue to own their own homes individually and an equal share of the company that owns the land beneath the entire neighborhood.

Through LEAP ROC, a community in Caldwell became the very first resident owned community in Idaho! In 2020, two communities in Garden City joined together to become the second resident owned community and ensured the preservation of their homes against impending gentrification. 87 homes in Idaho now get to participate in decisions that directly impact lot rent and community improvements, among other things.

LEAP works with the Idaho ROC communities to provide 3 things: pre-purchase guidance to get through the purchasing process, financing support to obtain a loan for the purchase and improvement of the community and post-purchase support to the community’s Board of Directors for years afterwards. Residents vote on a board of directors (similar to an HOA) to oversee the operation of the community.

LEAP ROC works with manufactured home community owners in southern Idaho where 82% of Idaho’s manufactured home communities are located. Southern Idaho has 168 manufactured home communities that consist of 9,361 homes.