Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Invisible Filters/Diversity (was Re: ROMANTICIZING COHOUSING)

[Raines Cohen (coho-L]

"Eris Weaver" <eris [at] wco.com> wrote on 10/25/99 1:34 PM:

>For example, most of our group found the group
>via the Internet; thus we have an invisible filter for people who are
>computer literate and Internet savvy.

This came up in EBCOHO's diversity discussion at its meeting last month. 
We have many kinds of diversity as goals of the group: economic, age, 
renter/buyer, etc., but the reality is that we have all kinds of filters 
implicit in how we do our outreach and recruitment and financing 
(including a bias towards people with time and inclination to spend their 
time in meetings!). What we can do is aim to identify and recognize the 
filters, and make sure that alternatives exist... that we don't just tell 
our friends about cohousing... that we translate materials and make sure 
meetings are accessible to all... and that the group is run in such a way 
so that everyone's voice is heard.

The effects of a commitment to diversity run deep... for instance, in 
looking at whether to treat operating costs of the group as capital 
investment in the project... means that if we're intending to accomodate 
renters as participants in the group, there may need to be some credit 
for them as well when the project is built and units sold. At the same 
time, we're looking at needing ongoing dues to cover all these initial 
expenses, but then. I wouldn't go so far as the income-related dues 
somebody recently posted (if members can't afford basic dues, how will 
they afford rent or a mortgage or a capital call for investment in the 
project?), but perhaps some form of associate membership.

Raines

Raines Cohen <coho-L [at] raines.com> <http://www.swansway.com/>
Who admits he is faithful to more than one group!

  Member, Old Oakland [CA] Cohousing at Swan's Market
Where some members feel "out of the loop" after missing a meeting.

  and Member, East Bay Cohousing [no site yet] <http://www.ebcoho.org/>
Which checked out a site in Oakland but decided that $44K/unit for just 
lot + office building is a little steep!