Words have meanings and the word community generally imparts a sense of belonging.  People in a community tend to have something in common.  They come from similar backgrounds, are generally in the same socioeconomic group, perhaps share “hobbies and interests.”  They have something that binds them together.  In the good old days, before “communities” were designed and force-fed on Americans, the sense of community evolved naturally.  Neighbors were friends who helped and looked out for each other.  They took in a child who might have inadvertently been locked out, picked up packages for neighbors or retrieved a trash can that was blown down the street by the wind.  In this brave new world of controlled living, the sense of community is no longer communal but rather a gathering of people who delight is spying on their neighbors.  Now a child who is locked out might get rescued by the police, mail is left out and the association is called to report a stray trash can.    

Ileana Johnson joins us On The Commons.  Ileana is an American by choice and a Romanian by birth.  She is a freelance journalist, an author, a speaker and a radio commentator.  She also maintains a blog  Ileana and her husband currently live in a Homeowner Association in Virginia where inspections are conducted regularly to ensure that no blade of grass exceeds the allowable length and that all things visible on the property conform to some rather vague standard.  Creativity and individuality are highly frowned upon.  Ileana tells us about life in her 300 square foot apartment in Communist Romania and draws some parallels between Communist Romania and HOAs, American Style.  Sometimes it is hard to find much difference.  

Individual freedom, along with personal and private property rights have been eroding gradually over the last few decades. This is especially true for homeowners in mandatory membership residential associations.  What is particularly galling about all this is that homeowners are told they knowingly and willingly gave up these rights – they ” agreed” and some go so far as to add “so stop your wining!”  This is a total misrepresentation of the facts.  No sane person in the world would agree to subject themselves to double taxation and the unfettered abuses of an industry gone wild.  The harm that can be done to families, the health and welfare of the citizens and especially the children living in HOAs can easily be demonstrated by this story.

Bobbie Goolsby joins us On The Commons.  Bobbie, a loving grandmother bought her granddaughter, Emma, now 6 years old, a pink playhouse.  This playhouse is Emma’s safe space, it is her world.  It is where she goes to feel safe, to get her therapy, to relax, to unwind and to mend and try to get better.  It is what every home should be.  This is something Emma understands.  It is a concept that the neighborhood HOA does not appear to understand.  Calling it a “metal shed” they demand it be removed immediately or face a court battle.  This, despite the fact that the homeowners were assured, BEFORE buying their home, that the playhouse would not be a problem.

In a candid and heartfelt interview Bobbie tells us about Emma and how they almost lost her.  What she means to the family and the joy this precious, friendly and outgoing child brings them.

Again, I have to ask myself, why do we need HOAs?