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If you lived in an HOA neighborhood, would you have a problem with a neighbor opening a home to care for disabled adults within your community, or would you think that’s a big problem?
In this story, one woman wants to do that exact thing, but the HOA wants to stop her. They claim she’d be breaking the rules.
The commission got involved and had a very strong opinion.
Keep reading to see how the story plays out.
FHOA: HOA tries to stop foster home from moving into south Fargo neighborhood
The Fargo City Commission granted this permit, but the HOA can still pursue this owner if there’s an actual covenant violation due to fairly typical restrictions on operating businesses where customers ingress and egress to and from the property.
HOA tries to stop foster home from moving into south Fargo neighborhood
Giselle Ishimwe plans to open a foster home in a far south Fargo neighborhood for adults with disabilities battling strokes, brain injuries and dementia.
The HOA isn’t happy.
The Golden Valley Homeowners Association (HOA) says the facility goes against their HOA “covenant” and asked the city commissioners to overturn the permit that would allow Ishimwe to run a group home in a residential neighborhood.
Commissioners, in a 3-2 decision, voted in favor of the 4-bedroom foster home.
While commissioners all agreed that it was important to allow residents with disabilities options to live in neighborhoods instead of just in nursing homes, some felt that the decision was too rushed.
The commission has a different goal than the HOA.
The commission’s job isn’t to follow HOA guidelines…
“We are really trying to integrate disabled people into the community,” Preston said, noting that the city’s focus is to create neighborhoods for all that are a mix of various ages, incomes and abilities.
This project is one step closer to that, she said.
It’s pretty cool to hear about an HOA not getting their way!
Let’s see how Reddit responded.
This person shares her experience with disabled neighbors.
Another person points out a potential problem.
Here’s another concern.
This person shares their opinion.
It doesn’t seem like anyone thinks there’s really anything wrong with opening a home for disabled adults in an HOA neighborhood. It sounds like the only real concern is parking, so they’d need to have a big enough driveway or place for the workers to park.
The HOA needs to back off.