Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: defining the cohousing principle

[Unnat (zen]

Rob has neatly stated the cohousing situation as it currently is.  However I
could not agree to this being the principle which I believe has to do with
intention, the WHY of cohousing.  The ownership factors are one means of
achieving a cohousing lifestyle and I understand that this is nearly all
coho projects.  As you may know by now, I live in a majority rental
cohousing project - maybe the only one in the world!?  Pinakarri Community,
prospective tenants and owners alike, shared the responsibility of the
development of the project.  As a non-equity resident, I fully participated
in every aspect of the development except that I wasn't using my money ;0)
We are all responsible for the management of the housing - rent collection,
budget, maintenance, accountability, landscaping, etc.

The level playing field of equity and non-equity members certainly brings up
money issues, big time, I can tell you!  An ongoing 'conflict' which has
made it to the top of the list again is about funding common spaces, in
particular the common house.  The cost of building the shell was covered by
rental members 'donating' a proportion of their house construction budget,
thereby sacrificing .  The equity/equality issues have been raging for
years!  Where we've been very casual about the (familiar) imbalance of toil
over the years, it's amusing how tight the same people can become around the
input of money.  But that's what we're about - to recognise and challenge
the status quo where it's not working and to find better ways.

So I'm leery of trying to contain cohousing in too small a box.  If
cohousing becomes popularly defined by the financial investment aspect then
that is of course how it will be manifested.  I see the current profile as
the pioneer work, making way for the adoption of cohousing as a viable model
for mainstream public rental and mixed equity housing, as well as
influencing private development projects and town planning.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

Regards
Robyn Williams
Pinakarri Community Inc
Fremantle, Western Australia