Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Background check Screening of Prospective Members

[Muriel Kranowski (murielk]

The discussion about trying to identify sex offenders always reminds me of
an awful situation in a cohousing community (not mine) that I heard about
years ago. It was discovered that a fairly long-time, very well liked
resident had been victimizing community kids. It really shook me up to
learn about that and I'm sure it was devastating for that community.

Not in response to that, but a number of years ago we adopted a policy that
before you sell to or rent any part of your home to anyone you must check
both the national and state sex offender registries. If the person is on
it, you (the current homeowner) must call a plenary meeting that you and
the prospective new person must both attend so people can talk to the
person and determine how safe they feel with the person.

This doesn't prevent you from selling or renting, but presumably gives the
community a heads-up if they find the person to be unsettling.

I assume homeowners are complying and checking before they sell -- there's
no way to know if they do or don't, and no-one has ever called such a
plenary meeting, but the policy remains in effect and perhaps makes parents
of young kids feel a bit safer about buying in.

  Muriel at Shadowlake Village