Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Screening prospective members for sexual abuse in their background

[Elizabeth Rosenau (ejrosenau]

Hi Jim,

Thank you so much for your disclosure and your thoughts.  Your story is an 
important addition to the conversation.

My community, Compass Cohousing, is still in the development phase.  I am the 
only woman on the Development Team.  During our planning stages, we decided to 
have a music room in the underground parkade that we would soundproof.  We also 
decided that it could double as a teen hangout space.

I began to have serious concerns that we were inadvertently providing the 
perfect space for a predator.  I raised it with our cohousing consultant and 
the others on the development team and could immediately see that they didn’t 
share my concerns.  But when I mentioned it to another community member who 
works in social services and is a rape survivor, she immediately saw the 
problem.

In the end, we decided to include electrical for a camera right outside of the 
door to the space so that we could have a record of who goes in and out.  I 
regret that we have to think this way and take this extra measure, but I place 
a high value on safety, as do others in the community.

I’d be interested in hearing other people’s thoughts and experiences around 
creating safer spaces within their communities.

Elizabeth Rosenau, Compass Cohousing. (Langley, British Columbia, Canada)


> On Feb 27, 2022, at 12:23 PM, Jim Bronson <jimbronsonashland [at] gmail.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> Wow, interesting sharings on the listserv showing how we can see this issue
> so differently.  Thanks to all who have weighed in.  I believe getting this
> mentionable and considered will strengthen our communities.
> 
> Full disclosure: I was sexually abused by a dear person to me who happened
> to be a catholic priest.  To be completely clear, if a catholic priest
> showed up as a prospective member at River Song I would be needing to find
> out about his relationship history, any behavioral treatment he may have
> experienced, and what his addictions may be.
> 
> Does that disadvantage anybody?  Does that discriminate against people who
> have grown and learned after a mistake made earlier in their lives?  I am
> sorry for that, if it is so, but this is the best I can do in a complex
> situation where I feel justified in building a safe environment and being
> more at ease from predatory assaults.
> 
> Thanks for considering this difficult and nuanced issue.  I would love to
> continue a respectful exchange with any who will
> 
> Jim Bronson
> River Song Cohousing Community
> Eugene, Oregon
> jimbronsonashland [at] gmail.com
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