Buddy system

Started by GaryS19 • 5 replies • 467 views

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GaryS19 (South Carolina)
Posts: 4

Posted:

Hi,
We have 140 houses in our 'hood, including a number consisting of one person, a lot of them elderly. Like me. Any ideas of a good way to keep up with people in need? A lot of us are concerned for a few other people whose nearest contact for emergencies is someone out of town. This would, of course, have to be something voluntary. A recent example was a woman who started walking down the street on a Thursday afternoon in a fur coat and told people she was on her way to church. It was about 85 F. A nephew is her contact and he lives 60 miles away.
If someone has some info they can give me or suggestions, I will be most grateful.
gs

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Concern for your fellow human beings is a wonderful thing. Don't make it the responsibility of the HOA, however. Start a volunteer group, perhaps, but the last thing you want to do is give the impression that the HOA is somehow "responsible" for the safety, health and well-being of residents.

Some in my HOA try to do that. They've set up a system of "block captains" who are supposed to get phone numbers and emergency contact info from every resident. And then they do god-knows-what with it. They never call anyone to see how they're doing. They certainly didn't check on anyone last September when Hurricane Dorian was threatening. They've done nothing to assist or help anyone. No bulletin-board postings, no newsletters, no wellness checks, no phone calls, no nothing. Two residents posted hand-written notes in the mail room asking if anyone needed someone to pick up a few groceries or something from the drug store. That was appreciated, but it came from individuals. Which was appropriate and kind. I don't think putting the HOA in the middle of all that is desirable.

Every time I suggest the entire committee be scrapped since it does nothing to benefit anyone all I get are blank stares. We've opted out of the nonsense. We've retracted the permission needed for them to publish our phone number or emergency contact info. The new "block captain" this year called in early January and asked us to update our information. We told her that the board already had all the information the HOA needs to contact us and we declined to participate in the absurd "block captain" system. She was apoplectic. Tough. Our governing documents do not require us to participate in any such thing.

FredS7 (Arizona)
Posts: 927

Posted:

Like the occasional thought to have a neighborhood watch- this should have nothing to do with the HOA.

Two reasons-

potential for distraction

and

potential liability.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

We have a local care volunteer center to assist with elderly. It's called "CASA". There are several of those chapters around many areas not just our own. Can also contact a senior center to see if they can give suggestions or assistance.

It is nice to have a "buddy system" but in no means a HOA responsibility. We called our HOA "For nearly deads and newlyweds". So had a good group of people who did watch out for eachother naturally. Don't expect everyone in the HOA to participate. It's just something think those who want to participate.

Former HOA President

MarshallT (New York)
Posts: 414

Posted:

Hi,

As others have mentioned, this shouldn't be a responsibility of the HOA. A buddy system is a wonderful idea, but someone will have to take the lead on this initiative and be responsible for creating the groups and distributing contact numbers.

You could start a group chat for the group if everyone is comfortable using something like WhatsApp. And you could look for volunteers who would come into the community on a regular basis, but this is not entirely helpful if an issue arises when the volunteer is not around.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MarshallT on 06/11/2020 8:25 AM
Hi,

As others have mentioned, this shouldn't be a responsibility of the HOA. A buddy system is a wonderful idea, but someone will have to take the lead on this initiative and be responsible for creating the groups and distributing contact numbers.

You could start a group chat for the group if everyone is comfortable using something like WhatsApp. And you could look for volunteers who would come into the community on a regular basis, but this is not entirely helpful if an issue arises when the volunteer is not around.

I agree. Not an HOA issue but one of value.

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