A WOMAN has been fined $100 by her homeowners association over the suicide awareness signs on her property.
Kerri Countess routinely posts about two dozen awareness signs every September for National Suicide Prevention Month on the lawn of her home in Sparks, Nevada, less than five miles east of Reno.
But now, Countess is in a row with her homeowners association, the Wingfield Springs Community Association, who said her signs are against the rules.
“Lots of kids [living] around here, and these messages are important,” Countess told NBC affiliate KRNV-DT.
The signs have photos of local teens who died by suicide and messages from their families.
Countess’ non-profit organization helps combat awareness of teen suicide.
She started her non-profit, Forever14, in 2019 after her 14-year-old son, Caleb Stenvold, died by suicide.
Countess then takes down the signs at the end of September.
However, in August, Countess was hit with an HOA violation, informing her the signs must be removed.
In the letter, the HOA said, “No signs, posters, billboards, advertising devices, or other displays of any kind shall be displayed on a lot of condominiums so as to be visible from outside any lot of condominium without the approval of the Design Review Committee, except such signs of customary and reasonable color, appearance, content and displayed on each lot of from each condominium advertising the lot of condominium for sale or lease.”
The HOA said they allow political signs, and Countess’ posters did not meet the criteria.
“So, it wasn’t any surprise because I knew I was in a room filled with heartless people, right,” Countess told the outlet after a meeting with her HOA board.
“There was no ‘I’m sorry, you lost your son. We emphasize, or we understand what you’re cause is.’”
Ultimately, the HOA board ruled to fine Countess $100 unless she removed the signs from her lawn.
The board said Countess had to remove the signs with the teens’ photos immediately and gave her an October 1 deadline to remove every other sign.
If Countess refused to comply with the ruling, she would be fined $100 each week.
The homeowner decided to obey the board’s decision and remove the signs instead of giving the HOA her money.
Countess paid for five digital billboards across town with the money she saved from the fines.
The brightly lit messages are now seen by thousands of cars driving each day.
“So, we’re raising our voice, right?” Countess told the outlet.
“So, we’re just using the resources that we have available to amplify our voice here.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Wingfield Springs Community Association for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
What is an HOA?
One in five Americans live in an area with a Homeowners’ Association – or HOA. But what exactly is it that they do?
- An HOA is a homeowner’s association – an organization that aims to maintain a clean and cohesive place to live for its residents.
- Entire neighborhoods, subdivisions, condominiums, family homes, or townhouses within “a planned development” will often make up an HOA.
- They also act as a governing body for tenants, who run and fund the HOA through monthly fees.
- Their principal aims are to keep the community functioning and visually appealing and to maintain property values.
- They primarily focus on common areas of a neighborhood, such as roads, parks, and pools – but may also stipulate what residents can do with their properties, such as yards and driveways.
- Often these restrictions enforce uniformity on properties, for example, ensuring most houses look the same and all driveways are clear of weeds.
- An HOA rulebook of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R) is distributed to all residents, and an elected volunteer board of directors enforces these regulations.
- Breaking these rules can result in penalties such as fines and even litigation – as most HOAs are incorporated and subject to state law.
- HOAs are often the subject of controversy, with some members feeling that the rules are too punitive and restricting, or that the leadership has too much power.
- But others like that HOAs give communities the power of self-governance, and can ensure a degree of harmony between residents.
