Have you ever wished
that you didn't have to live where you seldom saw your neighbors
or interacted with them? Have you thought that it would be great
to have other people around when you wanted or needed them? Did
you ever wish you could share meals with others? Perhaps co-housing
is an alternative you may want to consider.
What is co-housing?
It is a type of collaborative housing that attempts to overcome
the alienation some of us encounter in today's modern communities.
Each individual or family owns a private living space and they
own in common facilities to be used and enjoyed by all. Co-housing
is a way to bring back the old-time neighborhood where people
from all generations knew, trusted and helped each other. It is
for people of all ages who may enjoy living among a diverse group
which can encompass children as well as adults. It may be a practical
solution for some of us. Living cooperatively, by sharing tasks
such as gardening, cooking and property management creates a sense
of security and belonging.
Co-housing is for people
of all ages, but seniors in particular like it because there is
always someone around. This makes them feel safer and prevents
the sense of isolation and detachment that may be experienced
by those who live alone. The common house that these communities
normally share is the center of the community, designed to be
a place where all can enjoy meeting and socializing. It will house
a community kitchen where those who desire can share cooking and
meals (usually two or three times a week). Other rooms you might
typically find in the common house are dining room, living and
meeting rooms, perhaps guest rooms, laundry room and space for
children to play. Some common houses also have workshops, craft
studios and office space. Outdoor space may include flower and
vegetable gardens.
Your privately owned
dwelling could be one of several types of home, such as a multistory
structure, an attached unit or even a single family home. Normally,
many of the units are accessible for those with disabilities.
A typical co-housing community has 20 to 30 homes which are clustered
around a common courtyard and community building. The people who
join together to create these communities for themselves decide
what they can afford and the type of homes they would like to
build. The community is not only designed by the residents but
also managed by them. In Emeryville, California, for example,
a group of people, both single and couples, are converting a large
warehouse into co-housing.
Those who choose to
join together to design and live in co-housing do so because they
are committed to living as a community. Although they design their
units to respect autonomy and privacy, they also strive to foster
positive and supportive relationships and to be part of the greater
community around them. Co-housing is designed to promote both
physical and emotional health, safety and security of all the
members. All common areas are designed to be accessible to elders
and those with disabilities. Most housing of this type is built
within walking distance of transportation.
Co-housing began in
Denmark in the late 1960s and in North American in the l980's.
There are now over 77 such communities under construction or completed
in North America with at least another 130 in the planning stages.
The advantage of this
type of living is that being a member of such a community adds
to your security and may even give you a surrogate family. Single
mothers have found this a secure environment to raise children
and single retired women love the security of such a community.
A successful community often encompasses traditional and nontraditional
families.
The main disadvantage
is the length of time involved in designing, building and financing
the housing. Prospective residents usually meet together frequently
in the planning stages to forge joint decisions about the project
and spend enough time enough time together to be sure they are
compatible.
Co-housing projects
are often started by a group of like-minded individuals but could
be started by a social agency, fraternal group or even local city
government.
This is just one of
our housing alternatives. It works well for some but may not be
the answer to everyone's housing needs.
Resources and examples
of communities:
Co-Housing.org
The Co-Housing Company
Co-Housing Resources
Canadian Co-Housing Network
Proximity Co-Housing
(12 miles north of Leesburg, Virginia)
Sunward Co-Housing, Ann
Arbor, Michigan
Songaia Co-Housing, near Bothell,
Washington
Cambridge Co-Housing,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Pioneer Valley Co-Housing,
Amherst, Massachusetts
Takoma Village Co-Housing,
Washington, DC
Co-Housing
website, Australia and South
Australia's site
Blueberry Hill Co-Housing,
Vienna, Virginia
Jackson Place Co-Housing,
Seattle, Washington
Cob Hill Co-Housing,
Hartland, Vermont
