Re: Report on Survey of Cohousing Communities 2011. Just released. A must read!
From: Sharon Villines (sharonsharonvillines.com)
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:19:38 -0700 (PDT)
> 
> Blog entry: http://www.cohousing.org/node/4181
> Direct to survey (13 pages PDF): 
> http://www.cohousing.org/docs/2011/survey_of_cohousing_communities_2011.pdf

There is something about this report that is weirdly comforting and 
disappointing at the same time. My community is just like all the others! 
Comforting because our problems are not unique to us and we haven't "failed" in 
any more than most other communities in meeting the expectations of cohousing — 
more than one meal a week, for example. Disappointing because our strengths are 
also not unique, just part of the zeitgeist. 

Thanks for doing this and particularly for circulating it, not just hiding it 
somewhere on the website. 

I particularly liked the final suggestions for what communities need from the 
National Association:

1. The website directory is already very helpful.

2. If there could be a better way of organizing how communities deal with 
various issues, without having to wade through hundreds of emails in the 
cohousing -L and extract the jewels here & there. ( i.e. what has worked what 
hasn’t.)

3. Facilitation training (we can never have enough) 

4. Send us free training in communication skills, or any other valuable coho 
skill

5. Make best-practices manuals that include how to be established as a condo 
but still able recruit, educ and support.

6. How to add diversity when housing is market rate.

7. How to set up incentives for young families to join.

8. Make available a concise summary of cohoUS resources and services. Collect 
and post the prolific research that is done on our communities — we are 
frequently solicited by researchers. What happens to this data after it is 
collected?

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org





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