Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Partnering with organisations with conflicting goals

[Hans Tilstra (hans.tilstra]

My hypothesis is that there is a significant difference between people drawn to 
cohousing compared to those encouraged to join. 

For example, organisations such as Habitat for Humanity will want to ensure 
that the very limited funding available go to those people with the most 
significant socio-economic disadvantage. Here in Australia, VicUrban 
(http://www.vicurban.com/cs/Satellite?c=VPage&cid=1206754289293&pagename=VicUrban%2FLayout
 ) is investigating cohousing for two sites, both in relatively disadvantaged 
areas. 

There is a risk that sent message that 'cohousing is good for you' message of 
well-intending organisations is received differently by socio-economically 
disadvantaged applicants. They may take little notice of the 'co' and a great 
deal of the 'housing'. So, the typical profile of people interested in 
cohousing is further up Maslow's hierarchy compared to the profile of people 
struggling socio-economically. 

Hans
Melbourne, Victoria



From: Lynn Nadeau <welcome [at] olympus.net>
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Partnering with Habitat for Humanity
... Now, years later, we have: two compact units . The family we picked?  (Who 
had long come to our events and wished they could join, but  couldn't afford 
to). NIce people, and they have participated almost  not at all. The family HH 
picked? Has participated socially, coming to  some meals, very little 
organizationally. They are soon moving to  another state, and will be replaced 
by another young HH family. We  hope that new family will participate, and will 
make every effort  (again) to incorporate them and encourage them to 
participate.

It's good that we have these smaller houses, in our diverse mix of  housing 
that includes both smaller and larger ones. It's good that we are getting an 
additional family with young  
children, as the new residents were chosen by HH. (With hindsight, I  wish we'd 
put in something about second-generation HH family choices  also needing to be 
oriented about RW before choosing, but I think we  got lucky anyway. Hope so.)

Lynn at RoseWind