Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Support groups in cohousing for people who are out of work

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> How will cohousing help people who are physically able to hold a paying job 
> and would like to find a job to find one? 

One of the things to remember about cohousing is that it functions just like a 
neighborhood with a clubhouse. If the people in the neighborhood have the 
resources to help each other, they do. If they don't, they don't.

What makes cohousing neighbors more able to help is that they are more likely 
know each other better than the people on any given neighborhood block. You are 
more likely to know someone needs help and what kind of job they may be looking 
for.

But it pretty much stops there. Cohousers are just as busy with their own lives 
as anyone else and have their own limited resources, and tenuous jobs. 
Emergency, short term, non-repeating aid is usually available. Ongoing, 
resource intensive needs that invade and transform the life of the helper are 
less likely to be met.

The short message: there is a tendency to hear "support" as much more than it 
can realistically be.

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