b'FEATURE columnCAI Brings Community To CongressArecordnumberofcommunityassociationhomeownersand vast majority of homeowners are satisfied," says Dawn M. Bauman,industryprofessionalsconnectedwithcongressionalofficeson CAE, CAI\'s chief strategy officer. CAI was thrilled to connect aNovember2toadvancelegislativeprioritiesduringthe2023 record number of our advocates with their legislators in person forAdvocacy Summit hosted by Community Associations Institute. It the first time in several years."was the first in-person gathering in the nations Capital since the During the summit, Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.) was hon-COVID-19 pandemic. The Advocacy Summit was sponsored by ored with CAI\'s 2023 Hero of Associations (HOA) Award for hisEnterprise Bank and Reserve Advisors.leadership and support for the millions of residents living in com-CAI\'s120representativesfrom25statesadvocatedfor munity associations. CAI recognized Rouzer for his work to makefinancing condominium building repairs, disaster assistance fair- federal funds available to homeowners association residents after aness, Corporate Transparency Act exemption and delay opportuni- presidentially declared natural disaster.ties, and credentialing education After recent natural disastersfinancingopportunitieson inNorthCarolina,Rouzerhasbehalf of community association witnessed firsthand the inequitystakeholders.Inaddition,CAI oftheFederalEmergencyprovided legislators and staff with ManagementAgencyallocationneweducationandresources of federal funds. As a result, hedetailing the community associa- reintroducedtheDisastertionhousingmodelandits AssistanceFairnessAct(H.R.impactontheU.S.housing 3777) to help homeowners asso-market.Accordingtothelatest ciationsqualifyforfundingfordatafromtheFoundation disaster recovery.forCommunityAssociation I\'mproudtoreceivetheResearch,communityassocia- HeroofAssociations(HOA)tions are estimated to become the Award from CAI for my work inmajority form of housing in the CongresstoensureallcitizensU.S. by 2040. andcommunitiesimpactedbyCAI strongly believes that natural disasters can receive thelawmakersmustconsiderthe sameaccesstofederaldisasterimpactsoncommunitiesona recovery resources," says Rouzer.widerangeofpolicyissues Naturaldisastersdonotdis-from mortgage lending to natural criminate among neighborhoodsdisaster relief," says Thomas M. or housing, and I will continueSkiba, CAE, CAI\'s chief execu- working to ensure all homeown-tiveofficer.Oneinfour ers are treated fairly when tryingAmericansliveincommunity to rebuild."associations today, and thousands IfH.R.3777becomeslaw,ofnewcommunitiesarebuilt this legislation will help commu-each year. Our advocates have an nityassociationsinallstatesinfluential voice, and we\'re proud impactedbyanypresidentiallyof the work they do." November 2023: CAI Advocates from across the country declared natural disaster, includ-As the leading internation- meet on Capitol Hill. ing hurricanes, floods, wildfires,al authority in community asso- mudslides, and other calamities.ciation living, CAI advocates for Asmallchangeinfederalmore than 74 million Americans living and working in communi- policy can impact so many homeowners on the local level. It\'s clearty associations, commonly referred to as homeowners associations, Rep. Rouzer understands that. We\'re thrilled to have him champi-condominium communities, and housing cooperatives. on the Disaster Assistance Fairness Act. He deserves this recogni-CAI members are passionate about the work they do to sup- tion from CAI," says Bill Bittenbender, a CAI member and home-port community associations. They want to share the facts with ownerinSt.JamesPropertyOwnersAssociationinSouthport,their elected representatives about community livingwhere the N.C.10 - Suncoast Review Fall/Winter 2023 www.SuncoastCAI.com'