Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Affordability - Retention (Sally Hardy)

[Kathleen Lowry (kathleenlowrylpcclmft]

As Adler said, “There is harmony only among equals” That’s why the wealth gap 
is such a problem. Maybe we can all start regarding wealth as a burden, which 
it is, as a barrier to a more ego-free, loving existence. :) 

> On Feb 5, 2023, at 7:36 AM, Lisa Kuntz <lisa.kuntz [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks for your perspective and examples, Alan.
> 
> I'll be sharing this with Membership Team in my community, since these are
> perennial concerns.
> 
> Lisa Kuntz
> 
>> On Sun, Feb 5, 2023 at 4:14 AM Alan O'Hashi via Cohousing-L <
>> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Hello Sally -
>> 
>> The Cohousing Association envisions "A New American Dream" and diversity,
>> inclusion, and equity as major organizational themes this year, which
>> includes your timely question.
>> 
>> My place in Boulder has a diverse housing mix with affordable homes. The
>> most stable households have turned out to be those living in lower-cost
>> condos. Three of the market-rate houses have had four owners. The
>> lower-cost units have turned over at a rate of 28 percent, compared to 72
>> percent of the market-rate homes.
>> 
>> This has to do with housing choices in Colorado including in Denver. An
>> owner of a million-dollar house has more housing options than someone in a
>> $200,000 one. That's the price range in my community.
>> 
>> Those of us in lower-cost places would have to move out of town to find a
>> comparable house. Because of the lack of options, at least in my case, I'm
>> more willing to put up with the interpersonal problems that arise among
>> people who have different views about wealth and all that goes along with
>> that.
>> 
>> We have one resident who has taken it upon themselves to confront
>> neighbors who they don't like having around, for one reason or another. One
>> of their targets in a million-dollar place moved out on account of that
>> intervention. If they pulled that on me, their demands would fall on my
>> deaf ears.
>> 
>> Cohousing communities are microcosms of the country. Because of the
>> oppressive nature of the American Way, my observation, the socially and
>> economically powerful have a majority in most, communities, and get their
>> way more often. They have no reason to change their outlooks while the
>> marginalized have to capitulate or leave. Like in the wider society,
>> cohousing community economic and social divides are widening, maybe Aria is
>> no exception.
>> 
>> Hopefully, CoHoUS and its member neighborhoods can address housing
>> affordability together but one community at a time.
>> 
>> Thx,
>> 
>> Alan O
>> ps - the cooperative living model is a good start, but differentiating
>> people into the ‘haves’ who live in cohousing and ‘have nots’ into coops,
>> widens social and economic divides. The cohousing definition needs to be
>> more inclusive (private dwellings instead of private homes).
>> 
>> 
>> Alan O'Hashi
>> Donate and get "Beyond Heart Mountain"
>> books and DVDs
>> www.beyondheartmountain.com
>> www.bouldercomedia.com
>> ..303-910-5782..
>> ..307-316-2113..
>> 
>> 
>> On Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 04:16:10 AM MST, <
>> cohousing-l-request [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
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