Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: public housing authorities

[Unnat (Zen]

Hi all

Pinakarri is a privately owned and nonequity (rental) coho community.
My ears pricked up when I read Roger's post:

> We
> talked to the local public housing authorities, but they would have
put too
> many restrictions on the units (which had nothing to do with money or
> diversity).

I'm interested to know what the restrictions are that make this option
untenable.  Having "worked" with the state public housing authority here
for eight years I can fully understand the trepidation.  However, we now
have 8 rental houses and a commonhouse shell funded by a federal grant.
I have learnt over the years to stand firm in the face of blustering
bureaucracy - it's amazing what can be achieved; I wish I'd caught on
sooner.  Our (coho) strength comes from vision and persistence.  At the
end of the day the public servant gets a payslip for her/his effort and
goes home.  Often it's a matter of facilitating them through their fears
so that they can share in a project that is innovative and sets a
precedent for the future.

regards
Robyn Wiliiams
Pinakarri Community
Fremantle, Western Australia