Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Getting the work done

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

One of the misconceptions is that if you allow people to pay, then the poor 
will be doing the work and the rich will be paying. I don't know of any 
community that has found this to be true. One community set the hourly rate 
according the rate the least able to pay found acceptable.

While almost no one pays instead of works in our community, we have had 
instances where people contributed money to purchases. This is also prohibited 
in some communities because it might lead to the rich controlling purchases. We 
have definitely not found this to be true. We decide what we want and we ask 
for donations. Those who want the object the most often donate. In the case of 
a Universal Gym the community had to approve the purchase but it was paid for 
by about 8-10 people, not the community. The conditions are that it becomes the 
property of the community to be used as any other facility.

The fact is that communities need money as well as labor. There are always 
tasks no one wants to do, not necessarily the grubby work either. It might be 
child care for meetings or a main dish for yet another celebration of one kind 
or another. We do get tired of potlucks once in a while. Having a catered main 
dish would be a luxury.

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