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people moved there to be around people their own age. Should they all be allowed to move their grandkids in? poor kid, bad situation for al
Odds are the grandparents wouldn't be too happy if it was someone else's grandchild. They chose a retirement community for a reason, right
People move there b/c they don't want to live near children. This is not a temporary situation. The grandparents need to move somewhere els
If the HOA doesn't have the guts to enforce the rules, all it takes is one enterprising soul whipping up an antifreeze popsicle....wink, wink.....nudge, nudge.......
#41 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:49 PM EDTGood luck making a frozen treat out of antifreeze. :P
They should be allowed to stay until the house is sold, no matter how long. Hopefully, they will sell soon. How about a wealthy person pitching in to help? I love my grandchildren and that is why I would never buy in one of these communities. You never know what might happen, God Forbid. These people are trying to follow the rules and sell, but in these time it's hard to do. Good Luck.
#42 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:50 PM EDT
The whole world is not a rockwell world ! Sometimes we have to bend rules. unfortunately we bend them for illegal immigrants before people who given back to the community for so many years. Do we really care about our elderly or not!
#43 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:51 PM EDTMaybe the HOA should buy them out so that they can move!
#44 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:53 PM EDTI live in a retirement community, but they allow a family to live there also. In this economy it is hard to sell and buy a house quickly. They should be given a one year time frame to sell. This 6 year old girl has been tramatized enough. Be a christian, not heartless. They should not be evicted, just given a notice to sell within a year. Rules should be able to be bended when no one has been injured. As long as they have to sell within a year they are not breaking the rules, there is just an amendment to the rule due to extenuating circumstances.
#45 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:55 PM EDTThe HOA should buy their place. Then they would be able to move. They want to move. Times are hard right now.
#46 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:56 PM EDTI personally don't think there should be any communities with rules as to who can live there and who can't... I can't imagine it would be lawful to have a Christians only community, or a no minorities community, so why is it permissable to have a 55+ community? HOA are a bunch of bull...
#47 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:57 PM EDTHere here! Why is it that theres an *exception* to housing discrimination laws? Discrimination is *wrong*! No exceptions! How would these retirees who have to rejoin the workforce to recoup their investment losses feel if companies hired only 55 or younger. What if there was an exception in the employment discrimination laws based on age? Would that make it right? No it wouldn't.
I see no difference between the skin-head white supremacists, the black panthers, and 55+ community zealots they are simply intolerant bigots flocking together.
There is a reason the community is "over 55". They are done with kids and trying to enjoy a little retirement time. Give the grandparents 3 to 6 months to make other arrangements but in the end, rules are rules, you break them for one you must break them for all. What happens if someone wants to move and decides to rent to whoever they want under 55. I bet these grandparents would not like it. It is unfortunate though so give them some time to move. By the way, where is the daddy? The other grandparents? If you don't liking living in a HOA community, that is your choice, personally, I love it.
#48 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:59 PM EDTQuite puzzline to me - question for all those who want her to stay. What about all the other residents that live there because it is 55 and over and kids only visit? Why should they have to adjust the rules because the mother is a druggie? In most cases the reason people live there is so there are no kids running around all the time - if they want kids they don't go there is the first place. Why did the grandparents move there if they are so close to the grandkids. Just fyi - I was raised by my grandparents - not my parents - so been there done that. They would never have demanded someone change the rules just because our situation changed.
#49 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:05 PM EDTWhere is the compassion and understanding this generation was suppose to posses. The grandparents are willing to move but can not sell their house in this economy. An exception should be made until the house is sold for the well being of the child. A solution could be the HOA buy the house from the grandparents so they can move and everyone is happy.
#50 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:08 PM EDTAre you kidding me? This generation is the one that posesses NO compassion and understanding. They stood by while minorities were sent to one run-down school while whites were sent to a different well kempt school. This generation stood by doing nothing about laws preventing miscgeny, interacial marriage, homosexuality etc. Their children had to change these laws. Evidently they knew that these old people would never change their bigoted attitudes so the 55+ community was invented to allow them to discriminate, intolerate, and hate, together as a community until they die and leave the world a better place without them. I doubt the younger generations will choose to implement an *exeption* to housing discrimination laws, and perhaps abolish the bigoted exception.
The building I live in is 50 and older. I moved here in part because there is a strict no kids rule. They can visit but cannot under any circumstances live here. That was made clear in the beginning. I don't understand why so many people cannot understand that not everyone wants to live around kids. Or why they feel entitled to break any rules they choose to.
If I lived in that community, I would back the HOA 1000% and then some. Like others have stated, these people moved into this community for a reason. They pay dearly for this and deserve to live the way they choose. These grandparents are teaching this child that rules can be broken at will, and that people are mean because they want to live the way they choose.
#51 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:11 PM EDTYes but a situation outside of their control leaves them what options. An economy so bad they can not sell the house. Being retired on a fixed income they cannot afford 2 house payments. The child has no other suitable parents. The family is willing to move when they can sell the house. They are not teaching the child that rules can be broken but rather that exceptions can be made in some situations if the two parties are willing to compromise. Have the HOA buy the house if they have a such a big problem.
I find it sad that so many would sell out principle to rules and regulations, rather than step up for fair play. Sad commentary on our lazy fast food culture. Activism is dead. I'd leave the country if I had the resources...
#52 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:11 PM EDTYou are funny! Ha!
Yes, they signed a contract. Yes, they know they are breaking the rules. However, they are trying to get out of there. Circumstances don't always permit things to happen as quickly as one would like for them to. It is completely disgusting that these people in this retirement community would rather see this child go into foster care than stay with her grandparents. I just don't understand what is happening with America today. People are so selfish and uncaring. As someone else stated, it's ME ME ME. That is what is going to be the downfall of America, uncaring, selfish A**holes. Of course, someone is going to say, "Well, that's why we have the choice of moving to avoid children... blah, blah, blah...." Still doesn't account for your lack of compassion....
#53 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:12 PM EDTSo according to your post, it's a ME ME ME world. Isn't that exactly what the grandparents are doing? They want an exception because it's all about them. What about the many other residents in that community?
And a question to all. I keep seeing comments that they immediately put the house on the market. So am I to believe that this house has been on the market for 4+ years?
Fair Housing Act (1968) prohibits HOA from doing anything in this case. It specifically protects children under the age of 18 living with legal custodians as well as the custodians against HOA discrimination or rules. Until the girl turns 18 she is protected by Federal government which is the highest government in this country. HOA cannot exclude children from the community if their legal guardians are there. That's the law of the land. HOA has no case, any rules they pass that conflict with FHA1968 act are not valid.
But not even looking at the legalities which HOA does not have. Just looking at humane side of the current events. Under these circumstances it is understandable how a child could end up living with grandparents. In todays economic downturn and considering the circumstances of the situation it is also reasonable for the child to do so.
#54 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:13 PM EDTI so hope you're right and I hope the grandparents are aware of this!
The 55+ is also a Federal law. It is exempt from the Fair Housing Act. But to maintain a 55+ community exemption......they MUST permit no exceptions. One owner must be at least 55......no one in the home under 50. The court is going to be forced by statute to rule against the grandparents. They may, however, since grand ma and pa recklessly caused this crisis, order the little bassy put in a foster home.
I certainly hope they do know that. It is in section 802 of FHA defined under the "familial status".
How did grandma and grandpa recklessly caused this crisis. They did not force there daughter to do drugs and lose her parental rights. They have tried to move but can not sell the home. Times are changing and those that refuse to change will be left behind. Their are on fixed income so probably can not afford two house payments and if they can not sell the house how are they to find a renter to cover the cost of being the landlord of this home. The grandparents are not to blame. When this started I am sure they did not see their child losing parental rights and had to wait on the court to decide that case first. By this time the economy had tanked and they can not sell the house. The courts should force the HOA to buy the house so they can move and the HOA can keep their precise +55 rule.
TheAlmightyKnow is right.
The FHA contains a provision exempting "senior" housing or "housing for older persons" from the familial status provision of the Act. This means that age-restricted communities can lawfully discriminate against households with kids when doing such would normally be a problem.
What happen to people caring about others? These grandparents to their grand child in after moving to the community. They have even tried to sell thier home so they could move. They even reduced the cost of the house. How would you all feel if this was your grand child. I feel that people need to realize what this can do to the little girl. I would not want to see my grandchildren get lost in the system like so many children get. I would take them in at what ever the cost was.. Give the family a break till the house sells. If the Home Owner Association want them out so bad, along with the community then why don't they help them sell the house, or buy the house themselves.. The price is already reduced.
#55 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:17 PM EDTeveryone is missing the point, this has been going on for years. Four years ago the housing market wasn't as bad as it is now. I live in a 55+ neighborhood and we are not waiting for our final days. We have pools, exercise rooms, clubs, activities and trips. I still work full time but enjoy my week-ends without hearing the screaming, crying, fighting kids that I did in my old neighborhood. Yes, I did have children, four to be exact and I have Grandchildren. They visit and go home.
When you purchase a home in these neighborhoods you also sign a paper stating that you understand that no children can visit in your home for more than 3 months. We pay a hefty HOA fee to have all of this (our choice - not a complaint.) We get a tax break (impact tax) since no children and no school to enroll in. to the person who said only one must be 55 the other rule is that no one under age 19 can reside on a permanent basis.
I feel sorry for the child because the grandparents thought they were going to get away with something. I would wonder why there are no other relatives that could help out.
#56 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:19 PM EDTThe grandparents have not tried to get away with anything. 5 years ago there would have been a case in the court about their daughters parental rights. We do not know how long this court case took. The final decision on the custody may have been decided on only 2 years ago when the economy was bad. We do not have all the information. Look at current facts only please. What is best for the child is to stay with her grandparents, *(@ the HOA for now. They have tried to sell and move and obviously can not afford 2 house payments on a fixed income. The courts need to force the HOA to buy the house from the parents to keep their HOA rules.
One word as to what needs to be done, Orphanage!
I get sick and tired of all these bleeding hearts thinking of only themselves and wanting to be the exception. Yes, I get it, the “poor little child” and all that crap, the point is the little cretin does not belong there and must go. It is better to get this over and done with as quick as possible and put the kid where she belongs. She will then begin to learn the rule of law and hopefully does not follow her obvious destiny, a burden on society. For all you crybabies saying it were not her choice, too bad boohoo. This was forced upon the good people of the association and not the other way around.
#57 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:19 PM EDTYou appear as if you need to be put out of your misery!
Your entitled to your beliefs, and I am not judging you. I'm just glad you aren't one of my family or friends.
If the people in the community were so good, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
The wizard of Oz is in, you may want to see if he has another heart to give you ;)
Quit carping, I call “spade a spade” and not candy coats the reality of the situation. I repeat, the kid does not belong there and obviously the appointed guardians do not have the wherefore to remedy the situation.
I'm Right-1424758 is a waste of our oxygen as far as I'm concerned, but s/he brings up an interesting point.
I didn't catch it in the video, (wish it was a written news article) but did the court actually appoint the Grandparents as legal gaurdians? If so, then the court caused this problem, and the court should be obligated to correct/solve it in the best interests of the child. And to hell with everybody else!
Why are people not seeing what is best for the CHILD! I do not care about the HOA rules. It is obvious they did not have the child when they moved in because the HOA would not have allowed it and that is fine. I am sure these grandparents did not intend on spending their retirement years raising their granddaughter. But a situation arose in their family that makes them the best option to raise the child and they took her in. The child seems happy and well adjusted even if some feel a retirement community is not a fun place for a child to live. The grandparents are doing the right thing by raising their granddaughter and are trying to move. If the HOA has such a problem with this and will not make an exception then they can buy the house from the couple and they can move out. Simple solution what is the problem. Remember this is about what is best for 6 year old girl.
#58 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:20 PM EDTThere are many senior communities in the warm states. They come down in the winter and return to their other home in the summer. These folks knew the rules when they bought the home and were probably interviewed by the association to make sure they understood the rules.
Putting the child in foster care is cruel, costly (the grandparents will have to pay support to the State of Florida). The grandparents are not sitting on their hands and the association could pass a temporary order to allow this situation until the home is sold. Seems like the association people need a dose of reality and a healthy dose of compassion. The grandparents need to make sure the girl is not a nuisance in the park because they are violating the rules.
#59 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:22 PM EDTI have to say, some of the comments on this NV are just heartless. I hope this never happens to someone in your family.
Until a safe and viable option can be found, the child should be able to stay with her grandparents. If the HOA wants them out so bad, and so fast, they can buy them out.
How cold hearted can people be? Like the child doesn't have enough to deal with as it is.
#60 - Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:24 PM EDTAbsolute agreement, wtfwwus.
Karma = you should rightfully expect the assistance of others when you need it, if you have helped others when they've needed it.
Or...
Karma = you should expect to be kicked in the teeth when you are down if you were able to help others in their time of need, but totally ignored them.
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Retirement communities are worthless heartless legal constructs that discriminate. The girl should be allowed to stay and the owners jailed