Cohousing-L Mailing List: dom violence

[Kim Van Dyke (CV252]

This might be an interesting question for DomViol-l. Also, wouldn't
cohousing be an effective alternative to short-term shelters in
families leaving an abusive member? Assuming some therapy/security
was part of the deal. It's idealistic but might generate funding
interests. Given the justice system, victims aren't protected by
shelters, since they can't stay very long; and it's a constant
disruption, especially when kids are involved. This kind of group
might be best suited by site designs such as those by Donald McDonald,
Melanie Taylor, JJP Oud, and the Grow Home, a McGill University demo built
by Witold Rybczundski, who wrote a fascinating article for the Atlantic,
"Living Smaller." (Feb. 1991)*  The homes were geared toward mid-low incomes.
I saved this article as something to dream on. It makes such sense.

Also: It does seem likely that a "cooperative" type of
development could deter the kind of isolation that domestic violence
thrives on, in developments consisting of traditional-type families.
(Especially compared to suburban housing, with its false sense of security.)

PS--I'm new to this list and glad it's here. As a single parent, even cohousing
seems out of reach, though, so I've been interesting in the discussions re:
cohousing solutions for low/mid-incomes. Is is by design that single-
parent families are priced out of just about every housing market? (With
exceptions, of course.) Appears as though the dreaded single parent
is being hit with economic sanctions re: housing. Of course, we could just
get rich.

Kim Van Dyke
cv252 [at] albany.albany.edu
518-475-0135
518-478-7845 (fax)
University at Albany
State University of New York