Background checks
From: Jennie Lindberg (jennielindberg1icloud.com)
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2022 13:04:02 -0800 (PST)
Background checks are a hot topic.
My first point: please don’t assume that it is only men who are perpetrators of 
sexual abuse, unfortunately, it is not. I have worked in the mental health 
field for over 25 years.
My second point:
In our community we decided background checks would cause more problems than 
they solved - what would we do with the information, how could we not 
discriminate if people have been convicted and served their time? Too many 
sticky situations to navigate when we know that people of color are more likely 
to be caught and convicted. We do not run background checks instead we put the 
burden of qualifying financially to purchase a home on each homebuyer.
My third point:
Our community did decide to check each prospective member against the National 
Sex Offender Registry. This is public information about  convicted sex 
offenders and is easily available.  Goggle DOJ NSOPW. Our website states that 
we check names against this registry.
It is my observation that cohousing is an ideal environment for a child 
molester. He or she would typically be a charming and helpful person and would 
find a community of trusting, open, sharing adults. This could be a child 
molester’s dream come true. I think it’s important for us all to be 
knowledgable, have healthy boundaries and believe children when they speak up 
even if it’s hard to imagine.
Jennie Lindberg
Sunnyside Village Cohousing


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