Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Helping Hands group

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Jul 25, 2022, at 3:45 PM, Muriel Kranowski <murielk [at] vt.edu> wrote:
> 
> Sharon, is one person (or a team who rotate) designated to do this and
> everyone goes to that person or team for this kind of assistance, or might
> anyone act as someone's information sharer when there's a situation that
> calls for it and the community is used to this sort of ad hoc information
> source? Ie, how does it work organizationally?

For the general helping hands stuff, the Community Team oversees it — being 
sure that a person is delegated to arrange meal sign-ups, etc. TLC is part of 
the Community Team meeting.

When it has been a serious illness or other crisis, the person in crisis has 
asked someone to do this. And as I remember it is usually the person they ask 
who reports that they are the person can answer questions. Sometimes to the 
internal email list, and sometimes in person. Sometimes when it is a one time 
event like a relationship ending 2-3 people have divided up the community and 
told each household personally. 

I think most people find it much more comfortable to know that someone has 
moved out or will be moving out rather than finding out by asking an awkward 
question. I don’t know of any instance when this hasn’t worked well. When 
nothing is said, the discomfort can last many months. Because nothing is said, 
it seems to be a much more upsetting event than it might really have been.

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