Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Taylor.
Hi Suzanne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My career has been driven by a passion for creating housing that gives people stability and opportunity. It started in California, over 30 years ago, when I joined the City of Claremont’s redevelopment department and worked on a senior housing project. Although it was an arduous process, the possibility of making an immediate difference in people’s lives was incredibly rewarding and seeing that impact continue decades later has only reinforced how meaningful housing work can be.
My experience working with a client and local governments to preserve affordable manufactured housing communities led to the development of the manufactured housing nonprofit model that is now the industry standard. I later founded Augusta Communities to further protect this critical housing resource. It became clear these communities were not the blighted neighborhoods they were often portrayed to be, but places with great potential, where residents and community leaders felt deeply connected to their communities and were grateful that a mission-driven organization was interested in their future.
Today, we own and manage more than 1,500 home sites. Building Augusta Communities was a commitment I balanced while raising three children, and today I’m fortunate to lead it alongside my daughter, Erica, and two longtime colleagues who have been an important part of Augusta’s growth. Vanessa has worked with me for about 30 years and Chrissy has worked with me for 16 years. Together, we are a women-led team with decades of shared experience.
While preserving affordable homeownership is our mission, we understand strong communities are about much more than housing. A big part of that is creating opportunities for residents to build connections and feel a strong sense of belonging, from outdoor movie nights, potlucks and holiday celebrations to youth leadership opportunities and our impactful summer camps which have become a cornerstone of our commitment to support families.
Manufactured housing is one of the few remaining pathways to affordable homeownership. Many families build equity over time, creating financial security and even generational wealth. Knowing our work preserves homes and provides opportunities for future generations inspires me every day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest challenges is changing how people view manufactured home communities. They’re often unfairly stereotyped, when in reality they are vibrant neighborhoods where families know and support one another. They are like any other home and filled with family pictures, food on the stove, personal knickknacks and awards and certificates proudly displayed on the wall.
Helping people understand the manufactured housing land-lease model is another challenge. Many struggle with the concept of owning a home while leasing the land beneath it, but for thousands of families it is one of the few remaining pathways to homeownership. It provides an opportunity to build equity, put down roots and enjoy the stability of homeownership that would otherwise be out of reach. Explaining that reality and overcoming misconceptions about manufactured housing has been an ongoing challenge throughout my career.
I’m sometimes asked about this being a male-dominated industry. I work effectively with all kinds of people when that is what it takes to get the job done, but when I have a choice, I choose to work with people who look beyond gender, value experience, and share my respect for residents. I stay focused on the mission and let the results speak for themselves.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Nonprofit: Augusta Communities is a women-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit housing organization and preferred partner for principals, investors, and public agencies, creating lasting affordable housing solutions through the acquisition, preservation, and rehabilitation of manufactured home communities that provide long-term stability for residents.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success by the impact we have, not by personal recognition. I’m most proud that Augusta Communities has become a leader in preserving affordable homeownership and proving that this nonprofit model works. None of that happened because of one person, it has always been a team effort. It’s the people around me that motivates me the most. I’m both grateful for and inspired by our residents, our dedicated team, and our board of directors, who have shared this mission for more than 25 years. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that our work improves people’s lives, whether that’s providing a safe, long-term place to call home or creating meaningful careers for employees who choose to stay with us for many years.
I think one of the things that’s interesting about our communities is that, as we know, there’s a growing separation between the haves and the have-nots and for many lower and middle income families, the dream of stability can feel like it’s slipping away. But what I appreciate is that when we talk with our residents, many of them don’t see themselves that way. When we ask for income certifications, they’ll often say, “Oh, I make too much money for this,” because they genuinely feel like they’re doing okay. And I like that. If we can be a small part of helping people feel secure, stable and proud of where they live, then I think that’s a good thing.
Our employees and community managers care deeply about the residents they serve and work every day to make our communities stronger. They understand that housing is much more than buildings or real estate, it is about people’s lives. Seeing them bring out the best in people, while knowing we’ve built an organization that will continue making a difference for years to come, is what success looks like to me and what I’m most proud of.
Looking ahead, I’m excited I’ve built a team of qualified people which gives me the opportunity to take on something new. Doing more on behalf of the nonprofit community and making sure our perspective is part of the legislative conversation around manufactured housing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://augustacommunities.org
