Cohousing-L Mailing List: Fixing the Mentally Ill!

[mdutton (mdutton]

It also sounds to me unlikely that this person will continue with the group
but if groups cannot manage with members who need fixing, who is to be the
judge of that?  I think Sociocracy has a lot to offer this type of
situation.  Everyone who objects or wants changes has to present
"reasonable" arguments.  I also have to respond to the suggestion that being
inclusive with people with mental illness in Cohousing won't work!   Many
people with mental illnesses function just fine in shared situations.  Being
dysfunctional has nothing to do with being mentally ill.  Many people with
personality disorders or character flaws have no diagnosis.  Most People
with mental illnesses seek support beyond their home neighbourhood...from
professionals and support groups.  For a time I ran a housing program for
people with mental health difficulties (which is how we preferred to refer
to people...rather than as being "mentally ill") 6/7 people shared large
suburban bungalows in a self help program.  A Peer Support program had
trained volunteers facilitate weekly meetings of the residents.  Of course
there were challenges but for the most part these folks formed strong bonds
with one another...in spite of sharing less space and facilities than was
optimum.

Maggie Dutton,
Director of Work Enjoyment,
http://www.thehomesproject.shawbiz.ca/
H.O.M.E.S. Housing Ourselves Made Easy Society
"creating a better way to live, one neighbourhood at a time"
in Fort McMurray, AB


>Well, I have to disagree. I have been a member of this list for too long,
and a member of a working community for too long to not be aware of all the
groups that have folded because their process didn't work, often because of
only a few people or one person. I think it's certainly worth trying to fix,
before summarily ousting her from the group, but I wouldn't bet a nickel on
her continuing in any healthy way with the group.

For crying out loud, this is a community, not a therapy group! If we had
tried to fix everyone who wanted to be a part of our community but wasn't
ready to live in community, we would never have gotten built. There is a
time to put the continued existence of the group above one persons needs,
and that time is ALL THE TIME.

I understand the desire to be inclusive, but it won't work with mentally ill
people. Cohousing groups aren't psychiatrists.

--
Liz Stevenson
Southside Park Cohousing
Sacramento, California
tamgoddess [at] attbi.com



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