Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Late HOA payments

[Bonnie Fergusson (fergyb2]

 The Community knows when the fund is accessed because we disclose all 
financial info quarterly, just not who.  We set it up this way because we 
didn't want the barrier of embarrassment to prevent those who need it from 
accessing it.  It's worked well without dissent or disruption so far (10 
years).  I agree it would be better if people had fewer feelings about 
disclosing money issues but we need to deal with how things actually are rather 
than how we would like them to be.  The Taboo about discussing personal 
finances is pretty strong.                        Bonnie Fergusson              
          Swans Market Cohousing
                        Oakland, CA                       

    On Wednesday, August 15, 2018, 10:18:18 AM PDT, Sharon Villines via 
Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:  
 
 > On Aug 15, 2018, at 12:43 PM, Bonnie Fergusson via Cohousing-L <cohousing-l 
 > [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> 
> It is used at the discretion of the Treasurer (to maintain privacy for the 
> borrower it doesn't go through the whole Committee or HOA) so members just 
> talk to whoever the Treasurer is if they need the help. 

Many people in my community also have this attitude - all financial 
transactions are private— why?

Why should one member of the community have this information and not others? 

How does this affect equal access to financial records and understanding of the 
community’s functioning — both social and financial?

In a cooperative community that is jointly owned and managed, why shouldn’t 
everyone be informed when exceptions to policies are needed/requested? We have 
to request exceptions to all our policies on the private members list, or can 
ask a team to request them for us. Why is money — essential to community 
functioning — be any different? 

Why should we be any more embarrassed and secretive about money on which we are 
all more dependent than other needs? I need to go to the hospital. And 
ambulance will be arriving for Harry who is having chest pain — not critical.

Optimally, the person would explain to the community, not the treasurer. And 
would receive the same care and consideration they would receive if they were 
ill and needed dinners delivered. 

I just don’t understand it.

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




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