Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Trading Systems

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

Andrew -- some questions for the long term because I don't know much about
financing a home in the UK...if a household can't raise enough money for a
deposit how will they be able to finance a house?  And keep up the other
financial obligations that will inevitably arise once the community is built
and you are living together?

Rather than sweat equity wouldn't it be better to find a source of funding
for their unit -- do you have any institutions that provide funding for
folks needing affordable or low income housing?  (Who BTW would oversee the
"sweat equity" that the household would be putting in?)

Nothing in development is "free."  Using sweat equity means somebody else
pays.  Sometimes the group is willing to create a pool of money that can
support others in the group that need it.  But I've rarely come across folks
w/ enough "spare" cash who can do this.  It does happen tho'.

Perhaps others have some suggestions -- I'd love to know myself as making
cohousing "affordable" is a big issue. (I mean besides using financial or
gov't institutions.  Any private sector support solutions out there?)

Another thought...when there is a great discrepancy in financial ability in
the group there will always be a tension between those who want to do things
in the community and those who want to keep costs as low as possible.  Once
taking on a household that needs a great deal of financial help just to get
in a house, the group may find that household continues to need support.
How will that be for the group in the long term?  And what would be the
effect on the inevitable resales?  Maybe better to find some source of
funding that gives the household longterm financial independence?

I think lack of affordability and egalitarian values in this movement create
one of the stickiest problems at this current stage in cohousing.

Love to hear some suggestions out there!

Ann Zabaldo

Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC. -- America's
Hometown!
zabaldo [at] earthlink.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Watkins" <aw_ch [at] ansae.co.uk>
To: <cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 12:41 AM
Subject: [C-L]_Trading Systems


> How do various groups manage the accounting of time and effort ?
>
> Do you place a cash value on activities like baby sitting or gardening, a
> share/equity value or use private cash substitutes.
>
> If we had keen members unable to raise a deposit for the project how can
> they use 'sweat equity' to contribute ?
>
>
> Andrew
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> South Warwickshire Cohousing Group UK.
> Andrew Watkins cohousing [at] ansae.co.uk  http://www.ansae.co.uk/swag
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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