Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Off-site members

[Angie McGowan (angiem]

>        We're probably about to have our first off-site semi-member. One of our
>members bought a run-down house across the street and planned to rent it out
>after renovating it into three apartments. Now, for financial and perhaps some
>personal reasons, he has announced that he plans to move into one of the units.
>And he wants to continue participating in the community, cooking and eating,
>doing maintenance chores, using the common facilities, etc. Quite a
>debate/discussion has broken out

Cascade Cohousing has always incorporated off-site members.  I don't recall
this ever being an issue as such.  We just set things up so that people
could be as flexible as they wanted to be about their domestic and economic
arrangements.
I think that some people would not have joined if there were a rule that
you had to live on site.
At least one of our members bought in and built on the basis that she would
rent out her house.  She lives elsewhere, but usually joins in the social
events, and contributes both financially and emotionally to the running and
maintenance of the group.

We also have several members who haven't built their houses yet, but who
intend to live here.  Again, they contribute to the running and maintenance
of the place, and often come round for common meals etc.

We also have a long-term absent member who is renting his house and another
member who lives in someone else's house and rents her own.  So we've got
several residents who aren't members but who rent.  We haven't found this a
problem. 

Hope this helps you decide what's right for you.

Angie McGowan
Cascade Cohousing
South Hobart, Tasmania

_______________________________________________
Angie McGowan
Cultural Heritage Section
Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasmania Australia
Intl ph +61-02-336596
Dom ph (002) 336596