Terminology Suggestion
From: Sharon Villines (sharonsharonvillines.com)
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 16:31:34 -0700 (PDT)
The messages about affordable cohousing, I think, are still confusing "affordable" with "low cost."

"Affordable" housing is a government defined concept that varies from location to location but in general, it defines "affordable" in relation to the average price of a home in that particular area. This is usually defined as some percentage of the average. Thus "affordable" could be a $500,000 house in some neighborhoods.

Developers are given tax breaks for building "affordable" housing or in some areas required to build a percentage of their production in affordable housing. They often include one project of affordable housing and then the rest of their projects are high end.

If we could talk in terms of "low cost," instead of "affordable," it might be closer to what people are complaining doesn't exist on this list or in cohousing.

Perhaps even talking in terms of actual costs. Under $100,000. Under $200,000. Above $250,000 would help.

In some intentional communities, people live happily on less than $10,000 a year by controlling housing costs -- and thus live in a real "trickle down" economy with proportionately lower repair, utility, and tax costs.

Not everyone has a cat, a dog, a guinea pig, three kids, two adults, and two cars in their household.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines in Washington DC
Where all roads lead to Casablanca




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