Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing vs "traditional" self-managed community

[Lisa Kuntz (lisa.kuntz]

Thanks to all who have replied!

We are wondering how we can inform potential members of what to expect and
still be compliant with Fair Housing.

It seems so simple, until you start having conversations!

On Mon, May 19, 2025 at 9:29 AM Nancy Detweiler <nancydetweiler [at] 
hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Great questions! I’m sure it differs from
> Place to place, but each Cohousing site should use such questions when
> introducing potential members to their location.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On May 19, 2025, at 9:05 AM, Mac Thomson via Cohousing-L <
> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> >
> > At Heartwood Cohousing, we take this concern very seriously in that we
> have a very strong process of making sure prospective members are very
> familiar with our community and have fully considered whether we are a good
> fit for them and vice versa and also a very strong orientation process once
> they arrive, including a big welcoming on their day of arrival — welcome
> basket and lots of help moving in, followed by six months of various
> orientations and a getting-to-know-you event.
> >
> > To learn more about our processes:
> > https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/membership.html <
> https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/membership.html>
> > https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/prospective-member-checklist.html <
> https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/prospective-member-checklist.html>
> > https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/membership-questionnaire.html <
> https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/membership-questionnaire.html>
> > https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/for-new-members.html <
> https://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/for-new-members.html>
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Mac
> >
> >
> > --
> > Mac Thomson
> >
> > Heartwood Cohousing
> > Southwest Colorado
> > http://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/
> >
> >
> > "America is a country that doesn't know where it's going but is
> determined to set a speed record getting there."
> >        - Laurence J. Peter
> > **********************************************************
> >
> >
> >
> >> On May 17, 2025, at 12:31 PM, Lisa Kuntz via Cohousing-L <
> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> When I chose to move to a cohousing community nine years ago, I did a
> lot
> >> of preparation and chose my community after following several cohos
> online
> >> for a few years, as well as visiting and "interviewing" with a couple in
> >> person.
> >>
> >> I thought that the concept of *cohousing *was a bit different than the
> idea
> >> of a traditional *self-managed community, * the difference being the
> >> expectation for not just participation but for social engagement and
> >> collaboration. What if those expectations are not communicated before
> >> people buy or rent?
> >>
> >> What I am curious about:
> >>
> >>  - Does a  *cohousing community *become just another *self-managed
> >>  community, *if there are no expectations communicated to potential
> >>  "members?"
> >>  - If a community offers only realtor-type tours, without relational
> >>  information, is it still *cohousing*?
> >>  - If a community ceases to feel comfortable with any type of
> >>  conversational/interview process to support potential buyers, is it
> still
> >>  *cohousing*?
> >>  - If there is no process to help buyers determine whether or not they
> >>  wish to live in a *relationally* oriented community, what happens to
> the
> >>  term "members?"  It seems to me as though we are just "residents."
> >>  - What happens when there is no concrete process to educate buyers
> about
> >>  how the *social fabric* differs from that of a traditional self-managed
> >>  community?
> >>  - Some of this transition to feeling like a traditional, self-managed
> >>  community rather than what I think of as cohousing, is due to Fair
> Housing
> >>  concerns.
> >>
> >> I don't know whether these thoughts will resonate with others, but if
> they
> >> do I would appreciate your feedback.
> >>
> >> Lisa Kuntz
> >> Daybreak Cohousing
> >> _________________________________________________________________
> >> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> >> http://l.cohousing.org/info
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> > http://l.cohousing.org/info
> >
> >
> >
> _________________________________________________________________
> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> http://L.cohousing.org/info
>
>
>
>