Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Sliding Scales & Memberships

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

Firstly I should say that we are new at this so "what we do" is anyone's
guess. A sure guide to starting an argument is saying "we do this for this
reason."

> Are renters not contributing to the maintenance because they don't want to,
> or because they're not members?  And when you say renters, do you mean
> people who have the lease on a house, or people who are sharing a house with
> an owner or member/renter.

Everyone pays a basic 'condo fee'. Roommates are covered under the owners
maintenance fee. Everyone pays for meals. But we consider cooking a part of
the workshare -- meals are not limited to people who cook. Anyone can cook.
Anyone can eat.

But we also have laundry facilities, exercise room, kids room, hot tub,
office with a computer, high quality printer, and a copy machine. We will
eventually have a well stocked workshop/crafts room.

These things require a lot of work to organize, equip, maintain, and
monitor.  Just cleaning the common house takes at least 18 Saturday people
hours every two weeks with fill-ins during the week. Scheduling the two
guest rooms is no cake walk.

Should renters, who do no work, be able to use the facilities freely? And
bring their guests? I'm actually better acquainted with one renters parents
than I am with him because they use the guest rooms and the commonhouse when
they are in town and he is at work. I'm not sure I would even recognize him
in a crowd.

We do have (or are wordsmithing) a non-owner resident membership that
obligates people to the same expectations of members -- to be informed, to
contribute work, to participate in community activities. Largely un-enforced
but enforcement hasn't been necessary.

The question is do renters have to sign it to use the facilities in the same
way a member does or are they limited to using them as a guest -- at the
express invitation of a member.

>There's no expectation placed on these
> people - we're big on 'rights' here (grrrr) - however I would feel very
> disappointed if they didn't respond to contribute to a major work project,
> for example.

We also have lovers and lodgers. What I'm afraid of the grrrrrrr. I would
rather address the issue and be sure we understand what we are getting into
rather than "taking privileges away" later.

> However, privately owned houses are only rented to people who want to be
> part of the community life.

We don't have this requirement. People are fairly in agreement about this (
I think -- don't quote me). We would  like them to participate but owners
didn't want their options limited if they were reassigned for a year or two.
(We have National Guard and Army people, for example.)

In fact we have so many people on the waiting list and people sharing who
would like to rent a whole unit that I doubt if this will ever be a problem.


Sharon
-- 
Sharon Villines
sharon [at] takomavillage.org
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org


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