Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: intentional community inclusive of persons with disabilities

[Marganne Meyer (marganne]

At 1:32 AM +0000 4/5/10, ameliacobb [at] comcast.net wrote:
> At this point there are at least six or more individuals with 
> special needs who are interested.
>
> We want to know if there are any cohousing communities that anyone 
> might know of that includes/integrates people with profound 
> challenges such as these? We welcome any and all contacts or 
> information as regarding this topic.

There is a cohousing community in Oregon that includes a disabled 
person. Since I'm disabled, I know one of the biggest barriers to 
cohousing is paying for it. Unless you are very lucky, all you have 
is your very minimal disability check to pay for rent or mortgage.

Another thought is to have several people agree to share a unit or 
have a room to rent. Then there are accommodations for any physical 
limitations with adds to the expense of the unit and to the common 
house. I've yet to see any disabled person obtain a government grant 
to help pay for living in cohousing. Good luck and please let us know 
if you find something.

mm