Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Common House Construction Sequencing

[Maggie (maggie]

" the possibility of building the common house before - maybe even well
before - the individual units are built."

Wow.....this idea has just solved a dilemma we have been struggling with.
We are a non-profit housing society in Calgary Alberta and want to use
cohousing as a way of producing affordable housing.  We have a phased
approach, beginning with getting funding for providing some transitional
(rental) housing where residents would have an opportunity to refocus their
lives, learn about community living, participate in workshops and break the
cycle of shelter use.
We expect that some of the residents will be interested in participating in
a cohousing development process working toward ownership.  Our plan includes
a sweat equity program where down payments can be earned through
volunteering at any recognized community agency.

The dilemma was in how to better link the two projects and the idea of
building a Common House of some type first is the perfect thing.  If we can
get enough land up front we could build a CH with (say 14 single occupancy
units) and sufficient common areas to accommodate space for a cohousing
group to begin to meet and feel at home in.

Thanks to this list and the Universe for providing an answer just in time.
Our letter of intent is due tomorrow to the Calgary Homeless Foundation and
I think this will make the difference.

Maggie Dutton
Secretary of the Board, H.O.M.E.S.
(Housing Ourselves Made Easy Society)
Addressing the need for affordable housing in Alberta.
Sponsored by: Calgary Inter-Faith Community Action Association and
Fairy-godmother.com


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