Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Policies for guests on property

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Apr 5, 2014, at 10:00 AM, johnrichmond50 <johnrichmond50 [at] hotmail.com> 
wrote:

> Another question - there is a groundswell within our group in favor of 
> background checks for future residents and renters. 

I agree with Ann. 

If you need a background check, you should discourage the person from joining 
you. The bank does a financial check--and may do more. I doubt that anyone who 
is interested in criminal behavior would want to move into cohousing. It's too 
people-involved. Criminal or anti-social behavior takes secrecy and prospective 
victims not knowing each other.

But I also believe that cohousing should take appropriate steps when a behavior 
like mental illness or addiction begins to affect the community. Just because 
it is a good community doesn't mean it is capable of coping with mental 
illness, anti-social behavior, or addictions. "Love is not enough." Neither is 
having good neighbors. 

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