Cohousing-L Mailing List: Cohousing Response to Hurricane Katrina

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

Hello all -- may I add my voice to Sharon's?

In his new book. ³Sustainable Community, ³ Graham Meltzer notes that, unlike
some other countries, in the US we have carried cohousing a step ­ or
several steps ­ further giving it  ³?the feel and momentum of a genuine
social movement.² (Meltzer, p. 10) He cites our propensity for networking,
organizing, publicity and intelligent use of the internet for promotion and
to provide support as factors that contribute to the social movement
phenomenon of cohousing in the US.

As I watch the news coming out of the southeast in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina I am once again struck by how the promise of cohousing to make a
difference in the world is once again before us.

Will we step out on this promise?

Cohousing is uniquely poised to respond to this crisis if we choose to do
so.  I am filled with gratitude to be living in community among people who
are organizing to respond. I would add to Meltzer¹s insight that cohousing
here in the US has provided a place for those of us who are committed to
social change not just to act on our values of responding to social issues
but to see our actions as cause for change.

So what actions can cohousing communities take to aid the relief efforts
that demonstrate the uniqueness of cohousing?

At least 82 communities in this country have Common Houses. Contact a relief
organization in your area and see if they need a space to train relief
workers or to perform other work.

We¹re good at preparing meals for large groups.  Volunteer to fix a
breakfast, lunch or dinner for relief agency workers in your area.

If you have guest rooms, and if you are able, consider offering housing to
those who need it.  See this link, sponsored by MoveOn,  for information on
how you can do this:

http://www.hurricanehousing.org <http://www.hurricanehousing.org/>

Most of all?we ³do² meetings.  Organize a meeting or get together in your
community to brainstorm other efforts you might take and then post them to
the Cohousing-L and/or other list servs.

I hope you will join my community in this effort.  What we do makes a
difference.

Ann Zabaldo
Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC