Minnesota manufactured home park residents and lawmakers are speaking out against what they say are skyrocketing rents and unsafe living conditions.

At the Minnesota State Capitol Thursday, they placed the blame on out-of-state private equity firms that have been purchasing these communities in recent years.

State Sen. Liz Boldon and state Rep. Matt Norris, both Democrats, were authors of companion bills, introduced earlier this year, that would cap annual lot rent increases to 3% and give residents a chance to purchase the lot they live on.

"I had to go back to work after 30 years of hard work at UPS to afford my lot rent now," said Gwen Elliott, who lives in a manufactured home park in Blaine.

Sammi Silver, who lives in a Lake Elmo community, said her rent went up more than 40% in the past five years.

"When my lot rent goes up, I can't just leave, it's not that simple. My home isn't truly mobile," Silver said. "It costs thousands of dollars to move, and most parks won't even take a house over five years old."

The lawmakers behind the bill for manufactured home park residents hope it gains some traction after getting stuck in committees last session.

Over the next several weeks, hundreds of manufactured home park residents will be holding forums with lawmakers in at least 10 districts across the state.