2024 Woman of Influence: Lesli Gooch

For the third year in a row, Manufactured Housing Institute CEO Dr. Lesli Gooch was named to HousingWire’s Woman of Influence list. The Women of Influence program recognizes the efforts of 100 women in driving the housing economy forward.

Dr. Lesli Gooch has been a driving force in reshaping the perception of manufactured housing among the public and policymakers across bipartisan lines. Her relentless advocacy has propelled manufactured homes from being stigmatized to being widely recognized as a solution to the nation’s housing shortage and as a way to make the American dream of homeownership possible. Through her visionary leadership, Gooch has championed the benefits of manufactured homes for their quality, energy efficiency and affordability. They have become increasingly sought after by families and individuals seeking contemporary living spaces featuring the latest design and sustainability innovations that align with their lifestyle and budget.

As the nation continues to grapple with a housing crisis, Gooch has worked tirelessly to elevate manufactured housing as an attainable and quality solution and achieved a number of key policy objectives.

In the past year, Gooch spearheaded a campaign to ensure land-lease communities were included in the new federal affordable housing policies and that community owners have access to federal funds to preserve and revitalize manufactured home communities. In addition, she successfully advocated for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to expand their commitment to financing manufactured home communities, a critical step to expand home ownership for millions of Americans.

This year marks 50 years since the passage of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act, which authorized the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish construction standards for manufactured homes. The successful partnership with HUD is a testament to Gooch’s diligence in leading the industry and her efforts to pass the bipartisan Manufactured Housing Affordability and Efficiency Act of 2023, which reaffirms HUD as the sole regulator of manufactured housing, will protect the quality, durability, safety and affordability of manufactured homes.

View her full profile here: https://lnkd.in/esDGh8wJ