by C. Scott Canady and Phoebe E. Neseth, Esq | May 20, 2021   CAI Tracking Nonjudicial Foreclosure Provision The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 2547, the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act. The act introduced by House Democrats combines multiple bills amending the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). CAI followed H.R. 2547’s development through...

by Phoebe E. Neseth, Esq. | May 13, 2021   Close to 80 million U.S. households have an animal in their home. Pets come in all shapes and sizes and provide companionship to their respective families, but there also are animals that play an important role in the lives of people with disabilities and mental health issues by assisting with day-to-day activities or giving emotional...

by C. Scott Canady | April 29, 2021   Anyone who has lived in or worked with community associations knows that planning and preparation for natural disasters matters. That is why it is encouraging to see policymakers in Washington, D.C., take steps to make disaster recovery less complicated for common interest communities. CAI is pleased that Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has committed to...

by Amy Repke | May 11, 2021   With summer quickly approaching, many community association boards continue to discuss how to safely open swimming pools and other amenities for residents to enjoy in the warmer months. CAI’s newly published report, Pool Position: Swim Season Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, examines steps communities across the U.S. are taking to opening pools this...

by Daniel Brannigan | May 6,2021   Long simmering and intricately intwined with our country’s history, equality, diversity and inclusion came back to the forefront in 2020 after the racially charged death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the subsequent protests that touched small towns and large cities. Racism and discrimination became discussion topics at home, in corporate and...

by Steve Spanier | April 28, 2021   Homeowners associations are representative democracies where powers are delegated to elected officials (the board of directors) and limited powers are reserved to the membership. In this governing model, the answer to a simple question can serve as a board member’s North Star: What is best for the community? EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING If board...

by Kiara Candelaria | April 22, 2021   Effective community association governance has many moving parts, and it’s crucial that board members adhere to a set of ethical standards that can help them fulfill their volunteer duties with the community’s best interests in mind. While not meant to address every potential ethical dilemma, CAI’s Model Code of Ethics for Community...

by Tom Skiba | April 16, 2021   If you’re like me, you don’t always need a calendar to remind yourself of important events. Engrained in my memory are my son’s birthday and my wedding anniversary. Some of us recall where we were when President Kennedy was shot, when the space shuttle Challenger was lost, or where we were on 9/11. And now, for many of us, we remember exactly where we...

by Phoebe E. Neseth, Esq. and C.Scott Canady | April 8, 2021   The COVID-19 pandemic created unforeseen advocacy priorities for the community association housing model. One of the leading legislative efforts during the pandemic has been providing businesses and other entities with limited liability protections from COVID-19-related claims, which allows them to reopen safely without fear of...

by Dawn Bauman, CAE | April 1, 2021   One of the challenging factors of the COVID-19 pandemic is the economic impact on individual residents in community associations. As homeowners become unable to fulfill their financial obligation of paying assessments, they will require direct access to resources that can provide relief. The American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress and signed into...