Leveraging HOA Resources to Cultivate Community
In some communities, residents want nothing more than to be left alone. They’re not necessarily interested in forming relationships with their neighbors, and community events hold little interest for them. There is nothing wrong with this, of course, but it does miss out on some of the real joys that come from living in a neighborhood—particularly an HOA-governed community.
Your Community has powerful HOA resources at its disposal, which, when leveraged properly, can foster a sense of community and ultimately improve the quality of life for all its residents. Community is not something that can be reduced to a recipe or a formula, of course, but there are a few distinct resources that an HOA has which can be very effective for bringing people together.
The first HOA resource that your HOA can leverage? Common areas. If you have a pavilion, a clubhouse, or a community-wide swimming pool, these common areas can be used to draw people out of their homes in order to get to know one another. Planning a cookout, where food is provided, is an obvious way to do this. If that’s not an option, even something as simple as providing come patio furniture—and keeping it cleaned and maintained—can encourage folks to mingle and to chat.
In addition to common areas, the HOA also has certain lines of communication—whether it’s social media, a newsletter, or simple word of mouth. Keeping the lines of communication open is a great way to help people remember that they do belong to a community. For instance, have you ever surveyed your residents to find out what times are ideal for social functions, or for community meetings? Simply asking the question can be an invaluable gesture of community.
Finally, your HOA has the means for scheduling events. Scheduled “fun” time, distinct from board meetings, can help boost community pride and encourage people to get to know one another. Even something as simple as a potluck or a game night can be a great way to break the ice and cultivate a real sense of community.