Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: HELP MAKE COHOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE

[Diana Carroll (dianaecarroll]

Thanks for this message and good luck in your mission.

Does anyone know what the tax laws are regarding deducting charitable
donations for an HOA?  We file federal taxes using 1040H, and I don't think
there's a way to deduct charitable donations unless we could demonstrate
that it's a "non-exempt" expense, but I know some groups file a 1040, and
maybe that does?

(Because it might be worth my proposing a donation by our HOA especially if
it had tax benefits.)

Thanks,
Diana


On Thu, Nov 21, 2013 at 8:58 AM, Margaret Porter <
margaret.porter [at] mindspring.com> wrote:

>
> Richart--I think making cohousing more affordable is a laudable goal.
>  From our experience at Silver Sage, I would stress that if you address
> affordability only initially, as the City of Boulder has done, it is not
> sufficient.  Realistic methods must be found for for making it affordable
> to actually live in a cohousing community over the long term, especially
> one as well-appointed as Silver Sage, as HOA dues rise.  This problem has
> not been addressed in the City's program nor was it adequately addressed,
> in my view, in the design and implementation of Silver Sage.
>
> Glad to discuss further.
>
> Margaret Porter
> Silver Sage Village
> Boulder Colorado
> On Nov 19, 2013, at 2:29 PM, Richart Keller wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > MAKING COHOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE
> >
> > As many of you may know, there is a new non-profit organization with the
> > mission of facilitating the development of affordable cohousing:
> > Partnerships for Affordable Cohousing (PFAC) (
> www.affordablecohousing.org).
> >
> >
> > Many forming and existing communities seek ways to become more
> > income-diverse, to provide ways for those of modest means to become
> > permanent residents.  Most have found limited success and become
> discouraged
> > at the challenges which they encounter.
> >
> > PFAC was established to provide existing and forming communities (as
> well as
> > architects and developers) with the means to realize this goal.  We
> occupy a
> > unique, strategic niche among US cohousing organizations, such as CohoUS,
> > which both complements and furthers their efforts to promote
> affordability.
> >
> >
> > PFAC's role is to provide ways to fill critical gaps in the path to
> > affordability.  We do this is a variety of ways, depending on what is
> > appropriate for a particular community--often it is a combination of
> direct
> > technical assistance, assisting in establishing a financing strategy,
> > partnering with or establishing linkages between communities and
> developers,
> > on the one hand, and sources of financial support, on the other.  One
> > mid-term goal of PFAC is to establish a revolving fund which can offer
> loans
> > where not otherwise available.
> >
> > Currently (in the startup period) these services are being provided on a
> > limited, as-needed basis through the broad pool of expertise available
> from
> > our Board members. This seasoned expertise ranges from providing
> guidance to
> > groups or developers considering starting a community through creating
> and
> > reviewing potential financial approaches, as well as drawing from our
> > extensive network to identify and establish relationships with local,
> > regional, and national resources capable of making the project feasible.
>  We
> > can also provide coordination and project management where needed.
> >
> > To do this work on a larger, sustainable scale, however, our 3-year
> > Strategic Plan calls for raising funds to hire professional staff,
> support
> > on-going administrative and other expenses, and establish a loan fund to
> > provide financial support to fill gaps and complement the majority of
> > support obtained from financial institutions and other sources.
> >
> >
> > We need your help to make our services available to more forming and
> > existing cohousing communities:
> >
> > 1) You can support the development of affordable cohousing through the
> > Donations page of the CohoUS website (www.cohousing.org).
> >
> >       Be sure to click the box designating "PFAC" as the way in which you
> > would like your tax-exempt donation used.
> >
> >       (Note: CohoUS is NOT fundraising for PFAC; they are only acting as
> > our fiscal agent.  As noted above, our missions are
> >          different but they complement each other and, together, expand
> > the reach of cohousing.  I would encourage you to make
> >         a donation directly to CohoUS for their important work as well.)
> >
> > 2) Or if you would like to explore ways of investing in the PFAC
> Cohousing
> > Fund, please contact PFAC's Treasurer Wendy Willbanks         Wiesner at
> > 303-881-6138 or email her at wendy [at] ethicalcapital.org.
> > With your support, this option can be made available for the many folks
> who
> > would like to become cohousers but who lack the resources.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Richart Keller, AICP
> > Pioneer Valley Cohousing
> > 120 Pulpit Hill Road #25
> > Amherst, MA 01002
> > 413-835-0011
> > 401 486-2677 (cell)
> > (richart.keller [at] gmail.com)
> >
> > President, Partnerships For Affordable Cohousing
> > (www.affordablecohousing.org)
> >
> >
> > Member, Cohousing Research Network (www.cohousingresearchnetwork.org)
> > Member, Steering Comittee, Massachusetts Finacial Education Collaborative
> > (www.masssaves.org/mfec)
> > Member, Steering Committee, Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network
> > (www.pvSustain.org)
> >
> >
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> >
> >
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