Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: PODs - SHARED HOUSES IN COHOUSING

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Aug 9, 2007, at 11:16 AM, Jamileh Jemison wrote:

> As a single person who might not be able to afford a market value  
> unit by
> themselves, but is very interested in joining the right community  
> this might
> prove to be a good solution.  However, I can think of a number of  
> concerns:
> A community within the community may develop. A reality with pros  
> and cons.

In fact communities within communities develop over time in all  
communities. One reason to keep communications expectations clear is  
to avoid the worst effects of this -- people excluded from decision  
making or not knowing about community events because they don't  
schmooz with the people discussing the topic.

> How would this household's contribution to the greater community be
> assessed? Would financial participation be prorated if that  
> household was
> not full?

This is an issue with all households in the community. Is more  
expected of a household with two adults and no children than a  
household with one adult and three children or no children. Or an  
adult member and a renter who does not participate. This isn't  
specific to a shared house.

> Would the members of the household be chosen by the larger  
> community or just
> that household?

Wow! I can't imagine it would work that anyone other than the  
residents chooses the new resident, unless the housing unit is very  
dorm like and has some outside control. For example, if I were the  
resident in Room A and the community choose a disruptive person to  
live in Room B, I would expect the community to deal with the  
disruption. If I chose the person, then it would be my responsibility.

What Legacy Farm is suggesting is a house designed for its residents  
to own in partnership so I think they would all have to choose each  
other and have clear agreements about how shares are sold.

I think it is a great idea and would help younger people live in  
cohousing. The problems are in writing clear agreements about  
ownership, use, etc. But I don't think the issues raised about  
subcommunities and shared work would be any different than any other  
household in the community.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Coauthor with John Buck of We the People
Consenting to a Deeper Democracy
A Guide to Sociocratic Principles and Methods
ISBN: 9780979282706
http://www.sociocracy.info