Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Mixed Income Cohousing

[Unnat (Zen]

Pinakarri Community is unusual in Australia and maybe elsewhere.  We
started with the intention of creating community - mostly poor, low
income, activists, greenies, sole parents (mums), alternative
life-style.  The housing was to provide a focal point - low income
rental with security of tenure made possible through a Federal Community
Housing initiative which supported housing co-ops (tenant managed group
housing) by providing grants to purchase land and build or spot purchase
homes.  An amazing opportunity really but you may notice the past tense.

We have eight non-equity rental houses and a common house, and four
privately owned houses.  The land was sold as two adjacent lots - the
overall design was looked aa a whole.  By the way, there is a commitment
to keep the non-equity houses in the low income rental market even
though local housing authority policy enables purchase by tenants.

I have never been so aware of 'class' and how much it matters or affects
people as I have become through this process.  However the longer I live
in community and experience the paradoxes the more I'm amazed that it
can work at all.

> So the question is what can be done to keep the diversity that we
have.

So maybe the people who want the housing need to get together (it sounds
as if you are gathering already) and get creative.  Cash in on the
proportion of the local well-heeled with a strong social conscience (Uni
town, right?) who may want to participate in some kind of joint venture
providing (co)housing for people on low incomes even if they don't care
to live there themselves.  I would definitely promote social diversity
within any housing community but owner-participants don't have to be the
ones to foot the bill.  Could be advantageous to keep that 'arm's
length' thing.  I strongly promote that ALL residents have the same
input opportunities, rights and responsibilities.  In Pinakarri all
decisions are by consensus.  The only boundary is that a person who is
not directly affected by a decision can't block that decision.  eg, I'm
a renter - I can participate in discussions re owner houses but I can't
block a decision that only affects the owners.  Or, a nonhoused
community member's viewpoints are welcomed in discussion about the
housing, but they can't block.  However they could block a decision that
affects access to the commonhouse if it disadvantaged their
participation.  Find ways of governance that brings people together
rather than separates.  Even the most subtle things can separate, like
choice of words ( I'm currently promoting the use of 'resident' instead
of 'tenant', 'housing management' instead of 'landlord' ), exclusive
meetings, etc.  We ALL, including non-housed members, contribute equally
to a common purse for the common house.

Create the vision and a proposal then sell it.  Good marketing is
essential.  Co-opt architects with an interest in design for community,
energy efficiency, community integration for people with a disability.
Accountants intrigued by the creative opportunity of triple bottom line
accounting . Green and/or socially minded politicians.  Always go to the
top in local Government.  Dare to dream, promote, promote, promote and
give it time to cook.

Warmest regards
Robyn Williams
Pinakarri Community
Fremantle
Western Australia