Cohousing-L Mailing List: Looking for examples of software coho use to manage community

[Steven Katz (katzcrawford]

>     I would be interested in writing app someday. That's obviously a big 
>project (iPhone + Android, which functions to implement, what things to add 
>just for mobile, etc). A mobile app would be nice for not having to log in. 
>Currently the sites work pretty well on mobile, some displays are too wide for 
>narrow screens. Do you have some examples where you think a mobile app would 
>be beneficial?

Sean, the users that I am thinking might benefit most from a mobile app might 
be the population that I am hoping to encourage in the building of higher 
functioning communities - residents of low-income, subsidized housing for 
seniors.  I believe that there are some such residents that don't have 
computers in their homes but do have smart phones.  Others may be more adept at 
using a phone than they are at a computer.

Perhaps it's a non sequitur to this discussion, but here in Lexington we are 
anxiously awaiting the Kentucky Housing Corporation's annual "Innovative 
Project" award.  Our area's premier developer of affordable housing projects 
has applied for that award with a plan to build what I think may become the 
nation's first all-affordable rentals senior cohousing community.  His plans 
include a lot of open square footage to be finished out in a fashion decided by 
the residents within a healthy budget.  Residents will attend an orientation, 
and hopefully, they will want to continue to attend additional educational 
sessions modeled after Chuck Durrett's Study Group 1.  There will almost 
certainly be less than 100% buy-in, but a cohousing community of the willing, 
supported by the developer's management, should result in a much higher quality 
of life for those that typically cannot afford to live in the vast majority of 
existing cohousing communities.

The award will be announced at the beginning of February.  A site has been 
secured, a zoning variance passed by the city council, and a financial 
commitment has been made by the city's affordable housing trust fund.  The 
project has been supported by the city's division of Aging & Disability 
Services and the mayor spoke in favor of it in the interview process with KHC. 
Fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, I came to the same realization as that developer that many 
cohousing-like practices can be adopted by already existing residential 
complexes.  I have spoken at Senior Services Commission meetings about building 
a network of subsidized senior housing projects for various projects, some of 
which might even be able to make use of Mosaic software down the road if Sean 
Davey is amenable to the idea.

Steve Katz
Lexington, KY