A SINGLE mom has been left battling her homeowners association as she fears the monthly fee might force her out of her home.
Families who once paid $20 fees have been devastated to learn they now might be forking over up to $300 a month.
Homeowners in Kearns, Utah, will soon be forced to pay $300 a month in HOA finesKUTV A single mom who lives in the neighborhood has shared her fears that she’ll be forced out of her house because of the price hikeKUTVThe homeowners were first offered low-income housing through a Habitat for Humanity program that offered 18 families cheap homes.
The program started in 2015 when Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity acquired a two-acre parcel of land in Kearns, just 12 miles outside of Salt Lake City, Utah.
The nonprofit organization set out to create new opportunities for families to own homes at an affordable price.
Now, families in Kearns’ Field of Dreams neighborhood are outraged after they received letters in the mail warning of the price increase.
A single mom of two kids said the recent 100% jump in fines made residents “frantic,” according to CBS affiliate KUTV.
“It’s stressful as a single mother of two kids trying to finish school, it’s hard,” she said.
The mom, who wished to remain unnamed, said she wasn’t sure what the costs could be for.
HOA fees typically pay for the upkeep of common areas including landscaping and pool maintenance.
“That is mindblowing because we don’t own a pool,” the mom said.
“The grass has died twice.”
The letters said there were 20 homes in the neighborhood that required $350 monthly management fees each.
The HOA also said there was a $50 software fee, which would bring each home’s charge to $400 a month.
“What are we to do?” the mom asked KUTV.
“Tell our families they can’t eat this month because we have to pay an extra $200 to the rent?”
What is an HOA?
One in five Americans live in an area with a Homeowners' Association - or HOA. But what exactly is it that they do?
An HOA is a homeowner’s association – an organization that aims to maintain a clean and cohesive place to live for its residents. Entire neighborhoods, subdivisions, condominiums, family homes, or townhouses within “a planned development” will often make up an HOA. They also act as a governing body for tenants, who run and fund the HOA through monthly fees. Their principal aims are to keep the community functioning and visually appealing and to maintain property values. They primarily focus on common areas of a neighborhood, such as roads, parks, and pools – but may also stipulate what residents can do with their properties, such as yards and driveways. Often these restrictions enforce uniformity on properties, for example, ensuring most houses look the same and all driveways are clear of weeds. An HOA rulebook of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R) is distributed to all residents, and an elected volunteer board of directors enforces these regulations. Breaking these rules can result in penalties such as fines and even litigation – as most HOAs are incorporated and subject to state law. HOAs are often the subject of controversy, with some members feeling that the rules are too punitive and restricting, or that the leadership has too much power. But others like that HOAs give communities the power of self-governance, and can ensure a degree of harmony between residents.She added, “With how they’re running things, we’re not going to be able to afford this. Nobody is.”
The Field of Dreams neighborhood was designed to conserve energy to lower the residents’ utility bills, NBC affiliate KSL reported in March 2024.
Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Ed Blake said at the time that the neighborhood was set up to encourage community between the homeowners.
When homeowners first received their keys, they received a 30-year interest-free mortgage.
Now, it’s unclear if all residents will continue to be able to afford their homes.
Habitat for Humanity hasn’t returned The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
The single mom shared her confusion over why the HOA fines were collectedKUTV The residents received warning of their increased fines in the mailKUTV Read More Details
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