Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Recruiting for Families

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Jun 15, 2004, at 9:57 AM, Theresa Jensen wrote:

>  We are currently trying to attract more children to our community, 
> and want to explore options in addition to targeting marketing 
> efforts.

We moved in with three children plus two visiting on weekends. A family 
of three moved in six months later.

After the first year we had another 5 babies though one died (SIDS). 
The next year we had one adoption (a 9 year old). This year we are 
having three more babies and a daughter with two babies and one on the 
way attends most meals. Three adoptions are in progress. Another three 
babies are planned. Two babies who are here temporarily with renting 
families, one waiting for a cohousing unit in another community and one 
visiting from Spain.

So we have gone from 4 to 16 after 4 years, not counting the three 
babies that are planned or the single adoptions that may turn into 
multiples.

Include a kids room in the commonhouse and outdoor play space and the 
kids will come. They will come last, however, because parents are often 
too busy to get involved in a long development process.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org