{
  "id": 10945443,
  "title": "1 in 2 Florida residents live in HOAs – how these private governments are reshaping the American Dream",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/1-in-2-florida-residents-live-in-hoas-how-these-private-governments",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-30T12:43:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation",
    "slug": "the-conversation",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/1-in-2-florida-residents-live-in-hoas-how-these-private-governments-are-reshaping-the-american-dream-282550"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Florida, approximately half of the state's residents reside in communities governed by homeowners associations (HOAs). These private organizations regulate various aspects of homeowners' lives, often restricting their choices and activities. Coretta, a Black mother of three interviewed for a study on the impact of HOAs, expressed frustration over the control exerted by her HOA. She felt that the developers had intended to maintain a predominantly Hispanic community, pushing out those they deemed unwelcome.\n\nHOAs, which oversee the majority of new single-family homes in the U.S., have the power to enforce community rules, impose fines, and even foreclose on homes. Their decisions often reflect racial biases, shaping unequal resource distribution and limiting the agency of racialized groups. For instance, an HOA in Florida once demanded that a veteran remove her Puerto Rican flag and restricted residents' voting rights, making it difficult for those without cars to participate.\n\nHOAs charge monthly dues, averaging $230 in Florida, with some homeowners paying over $500. These fees, tied to additional amenities, act as a barrier to homeownership for many. Additionally, HOAs can exclude renters and non-homeowners from decision-making processes, further exacerbating exclusionary practices. The voter suppression tactics employed by some HOAs, such as prohibiting proxy voting, limit residents' ability to influence their communities.\n\nOverall, HOAs act as racialized organizations, creating and maintaining inequality by favoring higher socioeconomic groups. They limit homeowners' agency, perpetuate residential segregation, and hinder access to affordable housing, ultimately reshaping the American Dream for many.",
  "summary": "HOA policies don’t always reflect the wishes of the homeowners whose interests they are meant to represent – and they aren’t legally required to.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}